bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
APOE4 Allele, Sex, and Dementia Risk in Parkinson’s Disease: Lessons From a Longitudinal Cohort
Authors: Umeh Chizoba C. , Mahajan Abhimanyu , Mihailovic Aleksandra , Pontone Gregory M. 
Published: December 2021

Introduction The effect of APOE4 allele on dementia risk is well established in Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, it is unknown if sex modifies this relationship. We sought to determine the effect of sex on the relationship between APOE4 status and incident cognitive decline in PD. Methods Data from the prospectively collected longitudinal National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) Uniform Data Set (UDS) and Neuropathology Data Set (NDS) were analyzed. The NACC develops and maintains data from approximately 29 National Institutes of Aging-funded Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers. Further details may be found at the NACC web site ( www.alz.washington.edu ). The visit at which diagnosis of PD was made was termed the baseline visit. All patients with a PD diagnosis but without dementia at the baseline visit were included in the analyses. Results Presence of APOE4 allele was associated with higher odds (OR = 7.4; P < .001) of subsequent diagnosis of dementia and with a faster time to developing dementia ( P = .04). Those with APOE4 allele were more likely to have neuropathology associated with Alzheimer’s disease than those without APOE4 allele. We did not find any difference by sex. There were no differences between Lewy body pathology or neuron loss in the substantia nigra between the 2 groups. Sex was not associated with dementia risk in PD (OR = 0.53, P = .15) or with the time to dementia onset ( P = .22). Sex did not modify the relationship between the APOE4 allele and dementia onset in PD patients ( P = .12) Conclusions APOE4 allele status in PD may be a predictor of cognitive decline in PD but does not appear to be modified by sex.
Effect of layer thickness on the overhanging surface quality manufactured by selective laser melting
Authors: Duan Weipeng , Wu Meiping , Han Jitai , Ma Yiqing , Miao Xiaojin 
Published: December 2021

With the increasing demand for the precision of lightweight part, overhanging surface quality has attracted more and more attentions in recent years. In this work, the relationship between overhanging surface quality and layer thickness was studied. The testing results revealed that with the increasing of the layer thickness, surface quality, especially the surface flatness, showed a significant decreasing trend due to the decreasing of the bending deformation. When layer thickness was ranged from 0.15 to 0.18, it reached a relative optimal condition while the sinking distance and flatness within 0.095 mm–0.1 mm and 0.076 mm–0.078 mm, respectively. With the further increasing of the layer thickness, both sinking distance and surface flatness had a quite significant decreasing due to the increasing gravity of the overhanging layer powder and bonded powder caused by the molten pool sinking. Combined to the experimental data and the analysis given above, the structure of the overhanging surface was optimized and the surface quality showed a further increase.
Numerical simulation method of submerged arc surfacing process of rollers
Authors: Li Chang , Huang Qingchun , Xu Yan , Han Xing 
Published: December 2021

The submerged arc surfacing process involves complex behaviors such as metal heat transfer, melting, flow, phase transformation, and solidification and involves the interaction of electric field, thermal field, magnetic field, and flow field. At present, it is impossible to reveal the transient mechanism of multi-field coupling in submerged arc surfacing by experience or trial and error, which is not conducive to shorten the development cycle and save the cost. Moreover, it is difficult to measure the molten pool velocity, von Mises stress, and phase transformation zone in real-time. However, these factors are the key to obtain a high-quality surfacing layer. Therefore, a three-dimensional mathematical model of heat force flow multi-field coupling for roller submerged arc surfacing is established in this article. The distribution and variation of welding temperature, von Mises stress, molten pool flow field, and phase transformation zone are revealed by solving the model. The maximum von Mises stress of the rollers during submerged arc surfacing is 432 MPa. The depth of the phase transformation is 2.50 mm, and the width is 1.98 mm. Zeiss-IGMA HD FESEM was used to observe the welding microstructure. The results show that the main microstructure is martensite and a small amount of ferrite.
Numerical investigations on leakage performance and flow mechanism of spiral groove seal for shrouded blade in axial turbine
Authors: Xiong Jun , Zhu Yangli , Wang Xing , Chen Haisheng , Wang Junfeng 
Published: December 2021

Flow field of shroud leakage flow for a single-stage axial turbine has been investigated in this article. The spiral groove seal (SGS) is adopted for shrouded rotor blade to reduce tip leakage and improve turbine aerodynamic performance. A series of three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are performed to investigate leakage characteristics and flow mechanism of various configurations with different angle, depth, width, and grooves number of the SGS. The original staggered labyrinth seal (LS) is also calculated for comparison. The results illustrate that small spiral groove angle can create more axial flow resistance; meanwhile, it will increase grooves number existing in the axial direction. Groove depth and tooth width will influence the number, shape, and strength of vortex in the groove. The leakage mass flow can be reduced by 36% and isentropic efficiency of the turbine can be increased by 0.26% when spiral groove angle, depth, and width of the SGS are 1.5°, 1.8 mm, and 0.8 mm, respectively. Overall, the optimal SGS can influence vortex generation and enhance energy dissipation in shroud cavity to reduce the leakage and suppress mixing loss of leakage flow with the main flow to some extent. It can be attributed to the combination of throttling effect and pumping effect of the SGS that realize leakage reduction and efficiency improvement. As a result, the SGS can effectively improve tip leakage flow of shrouded blade in axial turbine.
Effect of brass interlayer on microstructure, mechanical and corrosion behaviour of friction stir welded AA6061-T6 alloy
Authors: Nagu Korra , Kumar Adepu 
Published: December 2021

In this study, friction stir welding (FSW) was performed on AA6061-T6 with and without brass interlayer. The FSW with interlayer was performed for various tool rotational speeds (600–1000 r/min) and at constant travel speed (25 mm/min). The defect-free joint with uniform distribution of brass particles in the stir zone (SZ) and formation of the uniform composite structure was observed at an intermediate optimized tool rotational speed of 800 r/min due to the proper material flow. A strong metallurgical bond between brass particles with aluminium alloy resulted in the formation of Al2Cu and Al4Cu9 strengthening intermetallic compounds (IMCs). The average grain size obtained for the weld with interlayer is smaller than weld without interlayer. The presence of the interlayer enhanced the hardness and the tensile strength compared to the weld without interlayer. This improvement in mechanical properties with interlayer is attributed to the formation and uniform distribution of strengthening IMCs. The corrosion analysis was carried out in 3.5% NaCl solution using immersion test and electrochemical polarization test. The weld with interlayer showed enhanced corrosion resistance than the weld without interlayer which is attributed to the formation of major Al2Cu IMC which has less activation energy for the corrosion process.
Mortality and Major Adverse Events Improve With Increased Institutional Experience for Fenestrated and Branched Endovascular Aortic Repair
Authors: Doonan Robert-James , Bin-Ayeed Saad , Charbonneau Philippe , Hongku Kiattisak , Mackenzie Kent , Steinmetz Oren , Bayne Jason , Abraham Cherrie , Obrand Daniel , Girsowicz Elie , Gill Heather L. 
Published: December 2021

Objective: Our objective was to evaluate temporal trends in outcomes at our institution in the context a more heterogenous application of fenestrated/branched endovascular aneurysm repair (F/BEVAR). Methods: Patient and aneurysm characteristics, procedure details, and postoperative outcomes were collected for consecutive patients undergoing F/BEVAR between 2002 and February 2019 at our institution. Outcomes were compared between tertile 1 (T1, 2002–2010, n=47), T2 (2011–2014, n=47), and T3 (2015-February 2019, n=47). Results: We included 141 patients (74.8 ± 8.1 years, 83% male) with a mean follow-up of 28.0 ± 31.6 months. Proportion of patients with hypertension (63.8% T1, 85.1% T3, p=0.009), diabetes (6.4% T1, 29.7% T3, p=0.005), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; 27.6% T1, 42.5% T3, p=0.07), and history of stroke (4.2% T1, 17% T3, p=0.07) increased over time. Aneurysm diameter (65.3±11.4mm) and extent (56.0% juxtarenal/pararenal, 22.0% type IV, 22.0% type I-III) did not differ between groups. Custom made devices were implanted in 96.5% of cases with 3.4 ± 0.7 vessels reimplanted/case. There was a trend toward increased history of aortic surgery (p=0.008) and less custom made devices (p=0.007) in T3. Total procedure time (383.5±119.2 minutes T1, 316.2±88.4 T3, p=0.02), contrast volume (222.8±109.1 mL T1, 139.2±62.7ml T3, p<0.0001), and estimated blood loss (601.3±458.1 mL T1, 413.3±317.7 mL T3, p=0.02) decreased over time. Overall 30-day mortality was 6.3%, 10.6%-T1, 6.3%-T2, and 2.1%-T3 (p=0.09). We noted significant improvement in survival over time; 1- and 3-year survival was 79% and 56%, 89% and 83%, and 90% and 90%, for T1, T2, and T3, respectively (p=0.007). In all, 467 of 480 target vessels were revascularized (97.3% success). Reintervention rate (30-day: 13.5%, follow-up: 34.7%) and reintervention free survival was not significantly different between groups. Any major adverse event (MAE) occurred in 36.9% of patients overall with a significant decrease from early (51.1%), mid (34.9%), to late in our experience (25.5%, p=0.03). In multivariate analyses, increasing institutional experience (T3), procedure time, age, and sex were independent predictors of major adverse events. Conclusion: We have shown improvement in F/BEVAR outcomes including mortality, MAEs, and procedural metrics with increasing institutional experience. We postulate that a combination of advancements in technique, surgical team and postoperative care experience, graft design and stent technologies, and patient selection contributed to improvement in outcomes.
A cross-sectional study on the tea consumption effects of ankle–brachial index
Authors: Gu Lishuang , Liu Xuemei , Wu Shouling , Chu Kaiyun , Bao Jing-jing 
Published: December 2021

Objectives This thesis aims to explore the relationship between tea consumption and ankle–brachial index (ABI) and further studies the relationship between tea consumption and lower extremity atherosclerosis. Methods This is a cross-sectional, epidemiological survey of 17,373 subjects selected from the staff of Kailuan Group who had come to Kailuan General Hospital for a health examination from January 2016 to December 2017. Tea consumption was obtained by questionnaires. ABI was measured using an automated analyzer. The other data, such as age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and so on, was collected on the same day of the health examination results. The relationship between tea drinking habits and ABI was studied using logistic regression and multivariate linear regression analysis. Results Among the 17,373 analyzed subjects, the difference in age, gender, BMI, heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), uric acid (UA), C-reactive protein (CRP), fasting blood-glucose (Fbg), and ABI was statistically significant in the tea-drinking group and the nontea-drinking group ( p < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression models revealed that tea consumption was a positive predictor for ABI (odds ratio (OR) = 0.782, confidence interval (CI), 0.615–0.994) ( p < 0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis of the ABI value showed that frequent tea-drinking has a positive correlation with the ABI value ( p < 0.05). Conclusions The higher tea consumption is significantly associated with higher ABI which means less risk for lower extremity atherosclerosis.
The usage and outcomes of dextran in the treatment of acute deep venous thrombosis
Authors: Turhan Soysal , Karaarslan Kemal , Abud Burcin 
Published: December 2021

Objectives In this study, we retrospectively compared the outcomes of patients with acute deep vein thrombosis treated with dextran 40 infusion and unfractionated heparin with those of patients treated with unfractionated heparin alone. Methods We evaluated 104 patients with the diagnosis of acute deep vein thrombosis. The pain complaints of the patients at the time of admission and the pain complaints in the calf with dorsiflexion of the foot were evaluated with the visual analogue pain scale, and the calf diameter of affected limbs was measured. Fifty five patients had dextran 40 infusion and unfractionated heparin treatment concomitantly (Group HD), while 49 patients had unfractionated heparin treatment (Group H). Heparin dose was adjusted to obtain 1.5- to 2.5-fold of normal activated partial thromboplastin time in both groups. Oral anticoagulant, warfarin sodium, was administered in the first day and resumed. Unfractionated heparin infusion therapy was resumed until international normalized ratio values of 2–2.5 were obtained. Dextran 40 infusion therapy was administered for 3 days. Calf diameters, current pain, and calf pain at foot dorsiflexion were recorded at 48 h and 72 h. 65 patients were distal, and 39 patients were proximal and popliteal acute DVT. None of the patients had phlegmasia. All were acute DVT. Results At 48 and 72 h of therapy, it was determined that the decrease of the calf diameter and the pain were more significant both at 48th and 72nd hours in the Group HD. The calf circumference change, especially at 72 h, was 2.58 ± 0.39 cm in the group receiving heparin + dextran, while it was 1.76 ± 0.56 cm in the group receiving only heparin. ( p = 0.000). While there were only 1.24 ± 1.02 people in the group that received dextran at 72 h, leg pain persisted in 3.35 ± 1.11 people in the other group. ( p = 0.000). Evaluation was made only with calf vein diameter measurement. When patients with Homan’s sign were evaluated for their calf pain at foot dorsiflexion; both groups had decreased pain at 48th and 72nd hours. Conclusion In this study, we observed that the use of dextran 40 infusion therapy concomitantly with unfractionated heparin accelerates recovery substantially and decreases patient complaints significantly in early stages. In particular, reduction in leg pain and calf circumference reduction were more adequate in the dextran group. The early decrease in the calf circumference will have clinical consequences such as less heparin intake, earlier return to normal life, and a decrease in the total cost of treatment. Since the antithrombotic and anticoagulant effects of dextran are well known, we think that its use in this treatment as well as venous thromboembolism prophylaxis should be discussed.
The importance of perioperative optimisation to facilitate safe regional anaesthesia and their improved outcomes in fracture neck of femur patients
Authors: Gowers Benjamin Thomas Vincent , Greenhalgh Michael Sean , Dyson Kathryn , Iyengar Karthikeyan P , Jain Vijay K , Adam Riad F 
Published: December 2021

Background: Hip fractures are common presentations to orthopaedic departments, and their surgical management often results in blood transfusions. Compared with general anaesthesia, regional anaesthesia reduces the need for transfusions and mortality in the wider surgical population. Aims: In hip fracture patients, our primary outcome measure was to examine any relationship between anaesthetic modality and transfusion rates. The secondary outcome measure was to assess the relationship between anaesthetic modality and one-year mortality. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 280 patients was carried out in 2017 and 2018. Data were collected from patient records, local transfusion laboratory and the national hip fracture database. Results: A total of 59.6% had regional and 40.4% general anaesthesia. Regional anaesthesia patients were younger with fewer comorbidities (p < .05). About 19.8% regional and 34.5% general anaesthesia patients received transfusions (odds ratio (OR) = 0.47, p < .05); 13.6% were taking anticoagulants and were less likely to receive a regional anaesthetic (31.6% versus 64%, OR = 0.26, p < .05). One-year mortality was 27% for regional and 37% for general anaesthetic patients (OR = 0.64, p = .09). Conclusion: Regional anaesthesia halved the risk of blood transfusion. Anticoagulated patients were 74% less likely to receive regional anaesthetics, but had no additional transfusion risk. With optimisation, a larger proportion of patients could have regional anaesthesia.
Suppression of fibrin(ogen)-driven pathologies in disease models through controlled knockdown by lipid nanoparticle delivery of siRNA
Authors: Juang Lih Jiin , Hur Woosuk S. , Silva Lakmali M. , Strilchuk Amy W. , Francisco Brenton , Leung Jerry , Robertson Madelaine K. , Groeneveld Dafna J. , La Prairie Bridget , Chun Elizabeth M. , Cap Andrew P. , Luyendyk James P. , Palumbo Joseph S. , Cullis Pieter R. , Bugge Thomas H. , Flick Matthew J. , Kastrup Christian J. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractFibrinogen plays a pathologic role in multiple diseases. It contributes to thrombosis and modifies inflammatory and immune responses, supported by studies in mice expressing fibrinogen variants with altered function or with a germline fibrinogen deficiency. However, therapeutic strategies to safely and effectively tailor plasma fibrinogen concentration are lacking. Here, we developed a strategy to tune fibrinogen expression by administering lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting the fibrinogen α chain (siFga). Three distinct LNP-siFga reagents reduced both hepatic Fga messenger RNA and fibrinogen levels in platelets and plasma, with plasma levels decreased to 42%, 16%, and 4% of normal within 1 week of administration. Using the most potent siFga, circulating fibrinogen was controllably decreased to 32%, 14%, and 5% of baseline with 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg doses, respectively. Whole blood from mice treated with siFga formed clots with significantly decreased clot strength ex vivo, but siFga treatment did not compromise hemostasis following saphenous vein puncture or tail transection. In an endotoxemia model, siFga suppressed the acute phase response and decreased plasma fibrinogen, D-dimer, and proinflammatory cytokine levels. In a sterile peritonitis model, siFga restored normal macrophage migration in plasminogen-deficient mice. Finally, treatment of mice with siFga decreased the metastatic potential of tumor cells in a manner comparable to that observed in fibrinogen-deficient mice. The results indicate that siFga causes robust and controllable depletion of fibrinogen and provides the proof-of-concept that this strategy can modulate the pleiotropic effects of fibrinogen in relevant disease models.
Characteristics of N400 component elicited in patients who have migraine with aura
Authors: Petrusic Igor , Jovanovic Vojislav , Kovic Vanja , Savic Andrej 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
This study aimed to examine the N400 effect and event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited from congruent and incongruent stimuli in patients who have migraines with aura (MwA).

Methods
A total of 33 MwA patients and 20 healthy controls (HCs) were studied. They were balanced in age (35.12 ± 8.94 vs 34.70 ± 9.59 years, p = 0.872) and sex (69.7 vs 75.0% females, p = 0.761). ERPs were measured in response to both stimuli, where pictures were preceded with an object name that either matched or mismatched with the object. Averaged amplitudes, peaks, peak latencies, difference waves and topography were compared between MwA and HCs.

Results
MwA patients had significantly lower averaged amplitudes at the Fz and F4 sites during incongruent stimuli, as well as reduced peaks at the C3 and Pz sites. Topography showed a more widespread N400 effect over scalp relative to HCs. The difference ERP waveforms did not differ in the N400 effect between groups, but the P600 effect was significantly stronger in the HCs group relative to the MwA group at the Pz (6.52 ± 2.57 vs. 3.50 ± 3.15, p = 0.001) and P4 (5.86 ± 2.79 vs. 3.95 ± 3.64, p = 0.040) sites.

Conclusions
Picture-word matching tasks could serve as a potential new method for the investigation of semantic processing in MwA patients.
Prolonged viral shedding of SARS-CoV-2 and related factors in symptomatic COVID-19 patients: a prospective study
Authors: Long Hui , Zhao Jing , Zeng Hao-Long , Lu Qing-Bin , Fang Li-Qun , Wang Qiang , Wu Qing-Ming , Liu Wei 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
The temporal relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and antibody production and clinical progression remained obscure. The aim of this study was to describe the viral kinetics of symptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and identify factors that might contribute to prolonged viral shedding.

Methods
Symptomatic COVID-19 patients were enrolled in two hospitals in Wuhan, China, from whom the respiratory samples were collected and measured for viral loads consecutively by reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assay. The viral shedding pattern was delineated in relate to the epidemiologic and clinical information.

Results
Totally 2726 respiratory samples collected from 703 patients were quantified. The SARS-CoV-2 viral loads were at the highest level during the initial stage after symptom onset, which subsequently declined with time. The median time to SARS-CoV-2 negativity of nasopharyngeal test was 28 days, significantly longer in patients with older age (> 60 years old), female gender and those having longer interval from symptom onset to hospital admission (> 10 days). The multivariate Cox regression model revealed significant effect from older age (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.55–0.96), female gender (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.55–0.96) and longer interval from symptom onset to admission (HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.33–0.59) on longer time to SARS-CoV-2 negativity. The IgM antibody titer was significantly higher in the low viral loads group at 41–60 days after symptom onset. At the population level, the average viral loads were higher in early than in late outbreak periods.

Conclusions
The prolonged viral shedding of SARS-CoV-2 was observed in COVID-19 patients, particularly in older, female and those with longer interval from symptom onset to admission.