bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mobile diagnostics and consultation for the prevention of the metabolic syndrome and its secondary diseases in Brandenburg—study protocol of a regional prospective cohort study: the Mobile Brandenburg Cohort
Authors: Schraplau Anne , Block Andrea , Häusler Andreas , Wippert Pia-Maria , Rapp Michael A. , Völler Heinz , Bonaventura Klaus , Mayer Frank 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a risk cluster for a number of secondary diseases. The implementation of prevention programs requires early detection of individuals at risk. However, access to health care providers is limited in structurally weak regions. Brandenburg, a rural federal state in Germany, has an especially high MetS prevalence and disease burden. This study aims to validate and test the feasibility of a setup for mobile diagnostics of MetS and its secondary diseases, to evaluate the MetS prevalence and its association with moderating factors in Brandenburg and to identify new ways of early prevention, while establishing a “Mobile Brandenburg Cohort” to reveal new causes and risk factors for MetS.

Methods
In a pilot study, setups for mobile diagnostics of MetS and secondary diseases will be developed and validated. A van will be equipped as an examination room using point-of-care blood analyzers and by mobilizing standard methods. In study part A, these mobile diagnostic units will be placed at different locations in Brandenburg to locally recruit 5000 participants aged 40-70 years. They will be examined for MetS and advice on nutrition and physical activity will be provided. Questionnaires will be used to evaluate sociodemographics, stress perception, and physical activity. In study part B, participants with MetS, but without known secondary diseases, will receive a detailed mobile medical examination, including MetS diagnostics, medical history, clinical examinations, and instrumental diagnostics for internal, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and cognitive disorders. Participants will receive advice on nutrition and an exercise program will be demonstrated on site. People unable to participate in these mobile examinations will be interviewed by telephone. If necessary, participants will be referred to general practitioners for further diagnosis.

Discussion
The mobile diagnostics approach enables early detection of individuals at risk, and their targeted referral to local health care providers. Evaluation of the MetS prevalence, its relation to risk-increasing factors, and the “Mobile Brandenburg Cohort” create a unique database for further longitudinal studies on the implementation of home-based prevention programs to reduce mortality, especially in rural regions.

Trial registration
German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00022764; registered 07 October 2020—retrospectively registered.
Neuroradiological emergency consultations during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Pfaff Johannes A. R. , Harlan Marcial E. , Pfaff Günter , Hubert Alexander , Bendszus Martin 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
Measures taking aim at minimizing the risk of coronavirus transmission and fear of infection may affect decisions to seek care for other medical emergency conditions. The purpose of this analysis was to analyze intermediate-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on neuroradiological emergency consultations (NECs).

Methods
We conducted an ambispective study on NEC requests to a university hospital from a teleradiological network covering 13 hospitals in Germany. Weekly NEC rates for prepandemic calendar weeks (CW) 01/2019–09/2020 were compared with rates during first COVID-19 wave (CW 10–20/2020), first loosening of restrictions (CW 21–29/2020), intensified COVID-19 testing (CW 30–39/2020) and second COVID-19 wave (CW 40–53/2020), and contrasted with COVID-19 incidence in Germany.

Results
A total of n = 10 810 NECs were analyzed. Prepandemic NEC rates were stable over time (median: 103, IQR: 97–115). Upon the first COVID-19 wave in Germany, NEC rates declined sharply (median: 86, IQR: 69–92; p < 0.001) but recovered within weeks. Changes in NEC rates after first loosening of restrictions (median: 109, IQR: 98–127; p = 0. 188), a phase of intensified testing (median: 111, IQR: 101–114; p = 0.434) and as of a second COVID-19 wave (median: 102, IQR: 94–112; p = 0. 462) were not significant. Likewise, patient age and gender distribution remained constant.

Conclusion
Upon the first pandemic COVID-19 wave in Germany, NEC rates declined but recovered within weeks. It is unknown whether this recovery reflects improved medical care and test capabilities or an adjustment of the patients’ behaviour.
Role of novel cancer gene SLITRK3 to activate NTRK3 in squamous cell lung cancer
Authors: Bollig-Fischer Aliccia , Bao Bin , Manning Morenci , Dyson Greg , Michelhaugh Sharon K. , Mittal Sandeep , Bepler Gerold , Mamdani Hirva 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe development of targeted therapies that inhibit cancer-driving oncogenes has improved outcomes of patients diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). In contrast, patients diagnosed with lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) suffer worse survival outcomes and lack effective targeted treatment options. Identification of molecular drivers of LUSC to support development of targeted treatments is urgently needed. Addressing this need, the current report introduces the novel cancer gene SLIT- and NTRK-like family member 3 (SLITRK3) and its role in activating the neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase 3 (NTRK3) in LUSC cells. Multiple genome-wide data sets from patient samples were produced by us or downloaded from public databases to analyze tumor gene copy number aberrations, mRNA expression and associated survival outcomes. An accompanying mechanistic study employed LUSC cell lines and multiple methods, including in situ immunofluorescence, sphere-formation assay, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis of the CD133-positive cell fraction. Altogether, the results indicate that gene amplification and consequent high expression of SLITRK3 in LUSC is associated with worse outcomes and induces SLITRK3-dependent activation of NTRK3 to promote a cancer stem cell phenotype that is inhibited by existing NTRK-targeted inhibitors. Based on a recent literature search, this is the first report of a mechanistic role for SLITRK3 in cancer.
A Consensus Algorithm for Linear Support Vector Machines
Authors: Dutta Haimonti 
Published: August 2021

In the era of big data, an important weapon in a machine learning researcher’s arsenal is a scalable support vector machine (SVM) algorithm. Traditional algorithms for learning SVMs scale superlinearly with the training set size, which becomes infeasible quickly for large data sets. In recent years, scalable algorithms have been designed which study the primal or dual formulations of the problem. These often suggest a way to decompose the problem and facilitate development of distributed algorithms. In this paper, we present a distributed algorithm for learning linear SVMs in the primal form for binary classification called the gossip-based subgradient (GADGET) SVM. The algorithm is designed such that it can be executed locally on sites of a distributed system. Each site processes its local homogeneously partitioned data and learns a primal SVM model; it then gossips with random neighbors about the classifier learnt and uses this information to update the model. To learn the model, the SVM optimization problem is solved using several techniques, including a gradient estimation procedure, stochastic gradient descent method, and several variants including minibatches of varying sizes. Our theoretical results indicate that the rate at which the GADGET SVM algorithm converges to the global optimum at each site is dominated by an [Formula: see text] term, where λ measures the degree of convexity of the function at the site. Empirical results suggest that this anytime algorithm—where the quality of results improve gradually as computation time increases—has performance comparable to its centralized, pseudodistributed, and other state-of-the-art gossip-based SVM solvers. It is at least 1.5 times (often several orders of magnitude) faster than other gossip-based SVM solvers known in literature and has a message complexity of O(d) per iteration, where d represents the number of features of the data set. Finally, a large-scale case study is presented wherein the consensus-based SVM algorithm is used to predict failures of advanced mechanical components in a chocolate manufacturing process using more than one million data points.This paper was accepted by J. George Shanthikumar, big data analytics.
Think tanks estadunidenses e a China: a crítica homogênea na administração Trump (2017-2020) | U.S. think tanks and China: the homogeneous critics in the Trump administration (2017-2020)
Authors: Marcussi Pontes Rúbia 
Published: August 2021

O artigo analisa a produção de think tanks (TTs) dos Estados Unidos (EUA), a dizer, o Council on Foreign Relations, The Asia Society e The Heritage Foundation, sobre a China e identifica interfaces com a política dos EUA para tal Estado sob o governo de Donald Trump (2017-2020). A pesquisa é feita a partir da análise de conteúdo de relatórios, com base em indicadores selecionados, e aponta para a homogeneidade de suas críticas e recomendações. Conclui-se que predomina o alinhamento entre os TTs e a administração Trump, em um contexto de consenso bipartidário sobre a adoção de medidas mais duras em relação à China.Palavras-chave: Estados Unidos; China; Think Tanks.ABSTRACTThe article analyses U.S.-based think tanks’ (TTs) production (Council on Foreign Relations, The Asia Society and The Heritage Foundation) about China and identifies similarities in it with U.S. China policy in Donald Trump’s administration (2017-2020). The research was conducted through content analysis of the TTs’ reports and articles, with guiding indexes, and highlights their homogeneous critics and recommendations. The article also points to the alignment between the selected TTs and the Trump administration in a broader scenario of bipartisan support regarding the adoption of tougher measures in U.S. China policy.Keywords: United States; China; Think Tanks. Recebido em: 27 mar. 2021 | Aceito em: 07 jul. 2021.
Evidence of chikungunya virus infections among febrile patients at three secondary health facilities in the Ashanti and the Bono Regions of Ghana
Authors: Adusei Jonathan Akwasi , Narkwa Patrick Williams , Owusu Michael , Domfeh Seth Agyei , Alhassan Mahmood , Appau Emmanuel , Salam Alimatu , Mutocheluh Mohamed 
Published: August 2021

Background
Chikungunya is now of public health concern globally due to its re-emergence in endemic areas and introduction into new areas of the world. Worldwide, the vectors for transmission of the chikungunya virus are Aedes mosquitoes and these are prevalent in Ghana. Despite its global significance, the true burden of chikungunya virus infection in Ghana is largely unknown and the threat of outbreak remains high owing to international travel. This study sought to determine chikungunya virus infection among febrile patients suspected of having malaria infections at some selected health facilities in the Ashanti, Bono East, and Bono Regions of Ghana.

Methodology
This cross-sectional study recruited six hundred (600) febrile patients suspected of having malaria who submitted their clinical samples to the laboratories of the selected health facilities for the diagnosis of their infections. Five to ten millilitres (5-10ml) of venous blood were collected from each study participant. Sera were separated and tested for anti-chikungunya (IgM and IgG) antibodies using InBios ELISA kit following the manufacturer’s instruction. Samples positive for chikungunya IgM and IgG were selected and tested for chikungunya virus RNA using Reverse Transcription-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction. Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test kits were used to screen the participants for malaria. Structured questionnaires were administered to obtain demographic and clinical information of the study participants.

Result
Of the 600 samples tested, the overall seroprevalence of chikungunya was 6%. The seroprevalence of chikungunya IgM and IgG antibodies were 1.8% and 4.2% respectively. None of the chikungunya IgM and IgG positive samples tested positive for chikungunya RNA by RT-qPCR. Of the 600 samples, tested 32.3% (194/600) were positive for malaria parasites. Malaria and chikungunya co-infection was detected in 1.8% (11/600) of the participants.

Conclusion
Findings from the current study indicate low-level exposure to the chikungunya virus suggesting the virus is circulating and potentially causing morbidity in Ghana.
The monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio: Sex-specific differences in the tuberculosis disease spectrum, diagnostic indices and defining normal ranges
Authors: Buttle Thomas S. , Hummerstone Claire Y. , Billahalli Thippeswamy , Ward Richard J. B. , Barnes Korina E. , Marshall Natalie J. , Spong Viktoria C. , Bothamley Graham H. 
Published: August 2021

Background
The monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) has been advocated as a biomarker in tuberculosis. Our objective was to evaluate its clinical value and associations.

Methods
Blood counts, inflammatory markers and clinical parameters were measured in patients with and those screened for tuberculosis. Complete blood counts (CBCs) from a multi-ethnic population aged 16 to 65 years were evaluated; a sub-group with normal hematological indices was used to define the range of MLRs.

Results
Multivariate analysis in proven tuberculosis (n = 264) indicated MLR associated with low serum albumin, high white cell counts and a positive culture; values were higher in sputum smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (S+PTB). Analysis in S+PTB (n = 296) showed higher MLRs in males and those with high neutrophil counts, low serum albumin and high C-reactive protein. The diagnostic value of MLRs was assessed by comparing notified patients with TB (n = 264) with denotified cases (n = 50), active case-finding in non-contacts (TB n = 111 and LTBI n = 373) and contacts of S+PTB (n = 149) with S+PTB found at screening (n = 75). Sensitivities and specificities ranged from 58.0–62.5% and 50.0–70.0% respectively for optimal cut-off values, defined by ROC curves. In CBCs obtained over one month, ratios correlated with neutrophil counts (ρ = 0.48, P<0.00001, n = 14,573; MLR = 0.45 at 8–8.9 x 109/L) and were higher in males than females (P<0.0001). The MLR range (mean ± 2SD) in those with normal hematological indices (n = 3921: females 0.122–0.474; males 0.136–0.505) paralleled LTBI MLRs. Ratios did not predict death (n = 29) nor response to treatment (n = 178 S+PTB with follow-up CBCs). Ratios were higher in males than female in the 16–45 years age group, where immune differences due to sex hormones are likely greatest.

Conclusions
Severe tuberculosis and male sex associated with high MLRs; the same variables likely affect the performance of other biomarkers. The ratio performed poorly as a clinical aid.
External cephalic version at 38 weeks’ gestation at a specialized German single center
Authors: Zielbauer Ann-Sophie , Louwen Frank , Jennewein Lukas 
Published: August 2021

Introduction
Cesarean section (CS) rates are increasing worldwide. One constant indication is the breech presentation at term. By offering external cephalic version (ECV) and vaginal breech delivery CS rates can be further reduced.

Objective
This study aimed to analyze the ECV at 38 weeks of gestation with the associate uptake rate, predicting factors, success rate, and complications at a tertiary healthcare provider in Germany specializing in vaginal breech delivery.

Methods
We conducted a prospective cohort study with retrospective data acquisition. All women with a singleton fetus in breech presentation presenting after 34 weeks of gestation for counseling between 2013 and 2017 were included. ECV impact factors were analyzed using logistic regression.

Results
A total of 1,598 women presented for breech birth planning. ECV was performed on 353 patients. The overall success rate was 22.4%. A later week of gestation (odds ratio [OR] 1.69), an abundant amniotic fluid index (AFI score) (OR 5.74), fundal (OR 3.78) and anterior (OR 0.39) placental location, and an oblique lie (OR 9.08) were significantly associated with successful ECV in our population. No major complications were observed. The overall vaginal delivery rates could be increased to approximately 14% with ECV.

Conclusion
The demand for alternative birth modes other than CS for breech birth is high in the area of Frankfurt, Germany. Our study offers evidence of the safety of ECV at 38 weeks. Centers with expertise in vaginal breech delivery and ECV can reduce CS-rates. To further establish vaginal breech delivery and ECV as alternate options, the required knowledge and skill should be implemented in the revised curricula.
Hubungan Penanda Infeksi, Penanda Oksigenasi, dan Faktor Risiko Lainnya terhadap Mortalitas Pasien COVID-19 dengan Pneumonia Saat Admisi di Unit Perawatan Intensif RSUP Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo
Authors: Amiruddin Andi Taufik , Nurdin Haizah , Arif Syafri Kamsul , Musba Andi Muhammad Takdir , Salahuddin Andi , Palinrungi Ari Santri 
Published: August 2021

Latar Belakang: Organisasi Kesehatan Dunia (WHO) mendeklarasikan penyebaran dari coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Faktor risiko terhadap mortalitas pasien COVID-19 rawat intensive care unit (ICU) belum banyak diteliti.Tujuan: Mengetahui hubungan penanda infeksi, penanda oksigenasi dan faktor risiko lainnya terhadap mortalitas pasien COVID-19 dengan pneumonia.Metode: Penelitian retrospektif dilakukan di ICU Infection Centre RSUP Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo, Makassar pada April – Agustus 2020. Sampel penelitian adalah data pasien COVID-19 dengan pneumonia yang dirawat di ICU. Pasien dibagi ke dalam dua kelompok survivor grup (SG) dan non-survivor (NSG). Variabel penelitian berupa penanda infeksi, penanda oksigenasi dan faktor risiko yang didapatkan dari rekam medis pasien. Analisis bivariat dan multivariat dilakukan terhadap semua variabel penelitian.Hasil: Dari 92 pasien didapatkan 46 NSG dan 46 SG. Perbandingan jenis kelamin dan indeks massa tubuh antara kedua kelompok tidak signifikan bermakna secara statistik. Tidak didapatkan perbedaan signifikan secara statistik pada level c-reactive protein (CRP) antara kelompok NSG dengan median 91,1 (IQR 32,3-200,45) dan SG 88,95 (IQR 33,50-177,80), p= 0,899. Faktor risiko usia tua, diabetes mellitus (DM), dan peningkatan rasio neutrofil-limfosit (RNL) berdasarkan klasifikasi cut-off signifikan secara statistik pada mortalitas antar kedua kelompok. Pada NSG didapatkan median usia 60,5 (IQR 53-67,25) vs SG 56 (IQR 35-61,25), p= 0.02. Komorbid DM SG 8 dari 46 pasien (17,4%) dan NSG 17 dari 46 pasien (37%), p = 0,035. Pemeriksaan kadar RNL berdasarkan klasifikasi cut-off > 3,4 NSG 42 dari 46 pasien (91,3%) dan NS 11 dari 46 (23,9%), p= 0,048. Analisis multivariat regresi logistik didapatkan rasio P/F merupakan faktor risiko independen. Mortalitas pasien COVID-19 dengan pneumonia (OR 0,99 95% CI 0,988-1,00, p = 0,043). Kesimpulan: Umur di atas 60 tahun, DM, RNL, dan indeks oksigenasi bermakna secara signifikan terhadap kejadian mortalitas pasien COVID-19 dengan pneumonia, dimana pada indeks oksigenasi yang rendah didapatkan kejadian mortalitas yang tinggi.
Investigation of acid hydrolysis for carbohydrate analysis in kraft black liquor
Authors: Maitz Silvia , Kienberger Marlene 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Black liquor (BL) from the kraft process is considered a promising feedstock for several biorefinery scenarios. Besides lignin and carboxylic acids, this liquor also contains hemicelluloses and their degradation products. A simple and reliable detection of those is of importance for further processing of the liquor. The present paper presents a thorough investigation of quantitative analysis of carbohydrates, by performing acid hydrolysis experiments with a concentrated BL sample of 44% total dry solids. The hydrolysates were then analysed for the four monosaccharides arabinose, xylose, galactose and glucose, by high performance ion chromatography (HPIC) with pulsed amperometric detection. The amount of sulphuric acid needed for complete hydrolysis of the carbohydrates was determined in the range of 3.5–5 mol kg−1 of BL. A lower acid concentration led to insufficient liberation of galactose and glucose, while higher acid concentrations led to degradation of arabinose and xylose. The carbohydrate degradation was also investigated over time for different dilutions and hydrolysis temperatures. These experiments confirmed that the hexoses require considerably harsher conditions for complete liberation compared to xylose and arabinose. The use of internal recovery standards (RSs) was tested; the highest recoveries were obtained by direct spiking of the samples with the RS prior to hydrolysis.
Optimization of slanted grooved micromixer with a serpentine channel at a lower Reynolds number
Authors: Hadj Rahmoun Oum El Kheir , Tayebi Noureddine , Saighi Mohamed 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
In Lab-On-Chip (LOC) applications, micromixing is the most important step to obtain fast analytical response in many biochemical and biological detections. Design and realization of smaller and shorter mixers with higher efficiency has become a necessity more than a recommendation. In this work, a numerical optimization of a passive mixer with a serpentine-shaped channel is proposed. By considering a laminar flow regime, the continuity and momentum equations, along with the advection-diffusion equation, are solved to evaluate the mixing performance. The optimization of the slanted grooves micromixer with a serpentine channel is achieved using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box-Behnken design. This method is used to find a second-order polynomial regression model and to obtain the optimal groove design. The considered objective function is the mixing index, while the four design variables are: the number of grooves per half cycle (N), the groove angle (θ), the groove depth to channel height ratio (d/h) and the ratio of groove width to channel width (Wd/W). The optimization results indicate that the highest values of each selected interval of the groove depth to channel height ratio (d/h) and the angle between the radius and the groove (θ), on the other hand, the ratio of groove width to channel width (Wd/W) of about 0.45 are desirable to promote faster mixing. The Flow behaviour in optimized “slanted grooves mixer (SGM) with serpentine channel was tested for low Reynolds number Re ranging between 0.3 and 5, and the results have shown that in the range of Re from 0.3 to 0.7 the mixing index is greater than 85%, for large range of Re from 1 to 4.5, the mixing index reaches the value of 93% in the first cycle of the channel and it approaches 100% for channel length of 1.25 mm from the inlet of the channel. Thus the most important result of this work shows that higher efficiency is obtained for short distance and the required pressure drops decreases. This micromixer can be selected as a good candidate in applications that require a high degree of mixing with relatively small length mixing as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the analysis and extraction of DNA.