bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Treatment with a DPP-4 inhibitor at time of hospital admission for COVID-19 is not associated with improved clinical outcomes: data from the COVID-PREDICT cohort study in The Netherlands
Authors: Meijer Rick I. , Hoekstra Trynke , van den Oever Niels C. Gritters , Simsek Suat , van den Bergh Joop P. , Douma Renée A. , Reidinga Auke C. , Moeniralam Hazra S. , Dormans Tom ,   Amsterdam UMC COVID-19 biobank study group, Smits Mark M. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Purpose
Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP-)4 could reduce coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity by reducing inflammation and enhancing tissue repair beyond glucose lowering. We aimed to assess this in a prospective cohort study.

Methods
We studied in 565 patients with type 2 diabetes in the CovidPredict Clinical Course Cohort whether use of a DPP-4 inhibitor prior to hospital admission due to COVID-19 was associated with improved clinical outcomes. Using crude analyses and propensity score matching (on age, sex and BMI), 28 patients using a DPP-4 inhibitor were identified and compared to non-users.

Results
No differences were found in the primary outcome mortality (matched-analysis = odds-ratio: 0,94 [95% confidence interval: 0,69 – 1,28], p-value: 0,689) or any of the secondary outcomes (ICU admission, invasive ventilation, thrombotic events or infectious complications). Additional analyses comparing users of DPP-4 inhibitors with subgroups of non-users (subgroup 1: users of metformin and sulphonylurea; subgroup 2: users of any insulin combination), allowing to correct for diabetes severity, did not yield different results.

Conclusions
We conclude that outpatient use of a DPP-4 inhibitor does not affect the clinical outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes who are hospitalized because of COVID-19 infection.
Robust estimation for multivariate wrapped models
Authors: Saraceno Giovanni , Agostinelli Claudio , Greco Luca 
Published: June 2021

AbstractA weighted likelihood technique for robust estimation of multivariate Wrapped distributions of data points scattered on a$$p-$$p-dimensional torus is proposed. The occurrence of outliers in the sample at hand can badly compromise inference for standard techniques such as maximum likelihood method. Therefore, there is the need to handle such model inadequacies in the fitting process by a robust technique and an effective downweighting of observations not following the assumed model. Furthermore, the employ of a robust method could help in situations of hidden and unexpected substructures in the data. Here, it is suggested to build a set of data-dependent weights based on the Pearson residuals and solve the corresponding weighted likelihood estimating equations. In particular, robust estimation is carried out by using a Classification EM algorithm whose M-step is enhanced by the computation of weights based on current parameters’ values. The finite sample behavior of the proposed method has been investigated by a Monte Carlo numerical study and real data examples.
The association between social media addiction and eating disturbances is mediated by muscle dysmorphia-related symptoms: a cross-sectional study in a sample of young adults
Authors: Imperatori Claudio , Panno Angelo , Carbone Giuseppe Alessio , Corazza Ornella , Taddei Ines , Bernabei Laura , Massullo Chiara , Prevete Elisabeth , Tarsitani Lorenzo , Pasquini Massimo , Farina Benedetto , Biondi Massimo , Bersani Francesco Saverio 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Purpose
Although the association between problematic use of the internet and eating disorders (EDs) in young adults has been previously established, its underlying mechanisms have not been completely clarified. It has been suggested that exposure to idealized very thin and toned body images (e.g., “thinspiration” and “fitspiration” trends) on social media might lead to increased feelings of body dissatisfaction which, in turn, can represent a trigger for EDs. We have tested this hypothesis in a sample (N = 721) of young adults (504 females, mean age: 24.13 ± 3.70 years; range 18–34).

Methods
Self-report measures investigating symptoms related to social media addiction (SMA), muscle dysmorphia (MD), and EDs were used. A mediational model analyzing the direct and indirect effects of SMA-related symptoms on ED-related symptoms through the mediating role of MD-related symptoms was performed controlling for confounding factors (e.g., socio-demographic variables, substances use, body mass index, psychopathological distress).

Results
The model showed that the total effect of SMA-related symptoms on ED-related symptoms was significant (B = 0.213; p = 0.022) and that this association was mediated by MD-related symptoms (B = 0.083; p = 0.021).

Discussion
Our findings support the possibility that MD-related symptoms play a relevant role in mediating the association between SMA severity and ED pathology.

Level of evidence
Level III, evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case–control analytic studies.
Studies on the Mechanical Properties of Dry, Saturated, and Frozen Marls Using Destructive and Non-destructive Laboratory Approaches
Authors: Davarpanah Seyed Morteza , Sharghi Mohammad , Tarifard Abolfazl , Török Ákos , Vásárhelyi Balázs 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe mechanical properties of frozen rocks vary significantly from the properties of the same lithology under ambient temperature. The goal of this paper is to investigate these changes in the physical and mechanical properties of rocks due to saturation and freezing. Besides, the attention was paid on discovering new correlations between the mechanical characteristics. To fulfill these objectives, 36 uniaxial compressive strength tests, 36 Brazilian splitting tests, and 48 point load tests were carried out. The samples were tested in air dry, water saturated, and frozen (− 20 °C) conditions. The measured physical and mechanical parameters were analyzed by using regression analyses. It was found that the average uniaxial compressive strength of frozen samples (21.93 MPa) is 86.4% more than saturated ones (11.76 MPa) but 25.9% less than dry specimens (29.62 MPa). Additionally, high correlations were established between uniaxial compressive strength and IS(50) under air-dry, saturated, and frozen conditions for the investigated marl samples. Furthermore, it is of particular interest to observe a high correlation with the determination coefficient (R2 = 0.95) between the constants of previously published linear regressions of UCS- Is(50) under dry status.
Evaluation of Intercropping Legume Covers with Maize on Soil Moisture Improvement in Misrak Azerinet Berbere woreda, SNNPR, Ethiopia
Authors: Bekele Bagegnehu , Ademe Dagnaw , Gemi Yenealem , Habtemariam Temesgen 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIn Ethiopia, particularly Southern Regional State dry land crop productivity is majorly influenced by low soil moisture stress. The current study has been conducted to evaluate the effect of intercropping maize with legumes covers on Soil Moisture improvement at Misrak Azerinet Berbere woreda. Seven treatments evaluated were vetch with maize, lablab with maize, vetch only, lablab only, and maize only. The experimental design was in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in a permanent plot. Disturbed soil samples were collected from the intra-row spacing from both intercropped and non-intercropped plots from the depth of 0–20 cm and composited for soil moisture analysis. The yield and biomass of maize and legume shrubs have been collected. The Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) was computed to evaluate the land productivity of intercropped combinations. The result reveals that in both years, yield, biomass, and soil moisture content were not significant (p > 0.05) at a statistically significant level. After crop harvest, maize with lablab has better soil moisture relative to other combinations (first year). In both years, the soil moisture content in the soil was reduced in the sole crop of maize compared with sole vetch. However, the soil moisture content in the soil was increased in maize intercropped with lablab in both development stage and after harvest compared with maize intercropped with vetch. Both legume shrubs under mono and intercropped conditions conserve soil moisture relative to maize under mono cropped conditions. This implies the benefit of legume shrubs on soil moisture conservation both planted under mono cropped conditions and intercropped conditions. It is concluded that the combination of intercropping maize with legume shrubs could substantially increase soil moisture conservation and improve the overall land productivity. Therefore, for maximum maize production, farmers in the area should plant maize with a combination of vetch and lablab. Additionally, farmers should practice double cropping with the residual soil moisture from legume and its combinations.
Multi-objective optimization of AAJM process parameters for cutting of B4C/Gr particles reinforced Al 7075 composites using RSM-TOPSIS approach
Authors: Kolli Murahari , Ram Prasad A. V. S , Naresh Dasari Sai 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Abstract
The present study deals with the machining of hybrid Al 7075/B4C/Gr composite using Abrasive Aqua Jet Machining. The effects of selected input factors, i.e., water jet pressure (WJP), stand-off distance (SOD), and traverse speed (TS) on the performance characteristics, namely taper angle (TA), surface roughness (Ra), and the material removal rate (MRR) are investigated. The experimental runs and test strategies are formulated using the Response Surface Methodology-Central Composite Design approach. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to examine the effect of input factors and their interactions with performance characteristics. MRR, Ra, and TA optimum condition and mathematical equations were also developed. Further, the multi-optimization method “Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution” is considered to find out the best combinations of input factors for optimized output factors on the hybrid composite. The ANOVA results confirm that among the input factors, WJP and SOD are the most significant factors, and the percentage distribution of input factors are found to be jet pressure (55.21%), stand-off distance (23.36%), and traverse speed (2.56%). The multi-objective optimum conditions of the input factors are WJP (A1) 210 bar, SOD (B1), and TS (C3) 30 mm/min, that produce optimal values of the considered responses, i.e., MRR up to 4.8703 mm3/min, Ra up to 3.57 μm and TA up to 0.189°. The TA has improved by 49.6% through the multi-objective optimum results when compared with single parameter optimized results.

Article Highlights

Hybrid Al7075/B4C/Gr composite fabricated through the rotary stir casting technique

Experimental planning and designing layouts using Response Surface Methodology scheme and mathematical equations are produced with Design Expert 11.0.

The best TA was obtained by RSM-TOPSIS approach, found at a lower WJP and SOD and a higher TS.
Feasibility and short-term outcome of laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection in rectal cancer at an University Center
Authors: Huu Thinh Nguyen , Duc Huy Tran , Thanh Truc Thai , Ngoc Truong Vinh Pham , Van Viet Ung , Le Trinh Ngoc An , Le Trung Kien , Xuan Hung Tran , Hoang Bac Nguyen 
Published: June 2021

ABSTRACT

Background:
Optimal treatments for lateral pelvic lymph node (LPLN) metastasis still remain controversial. Total mesorectal excision (TME) surgery combined with lateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LPLND) has 5-years pelvic recurrence lower than TME alone. LPLND had been adopted widely in Japan and around the world, but the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic LPLND in Vietnam have not been yet documented.

Methods:
A prospective, single group intervention study was conducted at our center. We recruited patients who had low rectal cancer (below peritoneal reflection) and LPLN with short-axis larger than 5 mm on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Those who were over 80 years old and had severe comorbidity with life expectancy fewer than 5 years were excluded.

Results:
From 01/2017 to 7/2019 we performed 22 laparoscopic LPLND. There was no conversion from laparoscopy to open procedure. The mean time for laparoscopic LPLND alone was 70 minutes and the average blood loss was 96.8 ml. Urinary retention occurred in 5 cases (22.7%). The incidence of positive LPLN was 45%, the mean lymph node harvested was 6. Short-axis and long-axis of LPLN on MRI were 13 mm and 19.5 mm in metastatic LPLN group comparing to 6.3 mm and 9.1 mm in non-metastatic group.

Conclusions:
Laparoscopic LPLND in low rectal cancer was a safe and feasible procedure with a low incidence of postoperative complications, low blood loss and short hospital stay. Laparoscopic LPLND should be indicated for patients with low rectal cancer, targeting those who have swollen LPLN on MRI.

Highlights
Spatial inequalities of retail food stores may determine availability of healthful food choices in a Brazilian metropolis
Authors: Lopes Mariana Souza , Caiaffa Waleska Teixeira , Andrade Amanda Cristina de Souza , do Carmo Ariene Silva , Barber Sharrelle , Mendes Larissa Loures , Friche Amélia Augusta de Lima 
Published: June 2021

AbstractObjective:To examine the association between economic residential segregation and food environment.Design:Ecological: Food stores categorised according to the NOVA classification were geocoded, and absolute availability was calculated for each neighbourhood. Segregation was measured using local Gi*statistic, a measure of thesdbetween the economic composition of a neighbourhood (the proportion of heads of households in neighbourhoods earn monthly income of 0 to 3 minimum wages) and larger metropolitan area, weighted by the economic composition of surrounding neighbourhoods. Segregation was categorised as high (most segregated), medium (integrated) and low (less segregated or integrated). A proportional odds models were used to model the association between segregation and food environment.Setting:Belo Horizonte, Brazil.Participants:Food stores.Results:After adjustment for covariates, neighbourhoods characterised by high economic segregation had fewer food stores overall compared with neighbourhoods characterised by low segregation (OR = 0·56; 95 % CI (0·45, 0·69)). In addition, high segregated neighbourhoods were 49 % (OR = 0·51; 95 % CI (0·42, 0·61)) and 45 % (OR = 0·55; 95 % CI (0·45, 0·67)) less likely to have a high number of food stores that predominantly marketed ultra-processed foods and mixed food stores, respectively, as compared with their counterparts.Conclusions:Economic segregation is associated with differences in the distribution of food stores. Both low and high segregation territories should be prioritised by public policies to ensure healthy and adequate nutrition as a right for all communities. The former must continue to be protected from access to unhealthy commercial food outlets, while the latter must be the locus of actions that limit the availability of unhealthy commercial food store.
Yellow River's Contribution to the Building of Yangtze Delta During the Last 500 Years ‐ Evidence From Detrital Zircon U‐Pb Geochronology
Authors: Shang Yuan , Nian Xiaomei , Zhang Weiguo , Wang Feng 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe Yangtze Delta (YD), as one of the world mega deltas, its formation process has long been the subject of research. Previous study has proposed a remote connection of the Yellow River (YR) to the building of the YD over the past 600–400 years. However, complex source‐sink routing system of the YD sediment and lack of diagnostic provenance tools have hampered further understanding of this process. Inferred from detrital zircon U‐Pb geochronology, this study revealed an increased and significant contribution of the reworked YR sediment to the YD (up to 26%) since ca. 500 a during the period YR shifted its lower courses and entered the southern Yellow Sea. This study not only highlights the impact of human activity on the formation of the world's large delta but also addresses the intricate interplay between neighboring deltas through marine dynamics, for example, alongshore and tidal currents.
Observation of Nonuniform Energy Dissipation in the Electron Diffusion Region of Magnetopause Reconnection
Authors: Dong X.‐C. , Dunlop M. W. , Wang T.‐Y. , Zhao J.‐S. , Fu H.‐S. , Chen Z.‐Z. , Russell C. T. , Giles B. , Ergun R. , Lindqvist P. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractWe use Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) data to investigate the energy dissipation in a magnetopause reconnection electron diffusion region (EDR) event with moderate guide field. The four MMS spacecraft were separated by about 10 km so that comparative study among spacecraft within the EDR can be implemented. Similar magnetic field and electric current properties at each spacecraft indicate the formation of a quasi‐homogeneous magnetic and current structure in the diffusion region. However, we find that the energy dissipations detected by each spacecraft are still different due to the temporal or spatial effect of the out‐of‐plane reconnection electric field () within the dissipation region. Our study suggests that the nonuniform or unsteady energy dissipation in the reconnection EDR may be a universal process.
Upscaling Heat Flow in Porous Media With Periodic Surface Temperature Fluctuation Using a One‐Dimensional Subordinated Heat Transfer Equation
Authors: Zhang Yong , Yu Xiangnan , Fleckenstein Jan H. , Sun HongGuang , Lu Chengpeng , Yin Maosheng , Ma Rui , Salsky Kate , Wei Wei , Zheng Chunmiao 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe one‐dimensional (1‐d), constant‐parameter heat transport equation (HTE) built upon Fourier's law proposed in 1822 has been widely used to model heat transport in soil, where the core question is how to fit the observed temperature time series without detailed geomedium heterogeneity being mapped in the model. To address this question, this study extended the classical HTE by adding one parameter (the time index) using the time subordination approach to capture the impact of random operational times spent by individual heat parcels on heat dynamics. This led to a parsimonious, 1‐d, Subordinated HTE (Sub‐HTE), which assumes the temporally non‐Fourier heat transport and contains the classical HTE as an end member, with analytical solutions aimed at upscaling local heat transport in heterogeneous porous media. To test this approach, temperature time‐series were collected in unsaturated soils built in the laboratory that were subjected to periodic surface temperature fluctuations. Model applications showed that, although the HTE captures the general shape of the observed temperature time series, the Sub‐HTE is a mild improvement of the HTE in characterizing the nuances of temperature amplitude attenuation (likely due to the small operational time at the intermediate/late time stages). Both Eulerian and Lagrangian frameworks were developed to interpret other dynamics in heat flow, including the early time temperature jump and phase advance. Parameter analyses also revealed that the thermal front velocity in the Sub‐HTE is a function of Darcy flux, the time index, and the system's thermal properties, while the thermal diffusivity (the only parameter related to thermal properties in the Sub‐HTE) can be scale independent. Therefore, the 1‐d Sub‐HTE can be a reliable generalization of the classical 1‐d HTE in upscaling heat transport in soil.
Observability‐Based Sensor Placement Improves Contaminant Tracing in River Networks
Authors: Bartos Matthew , Kerkez Branko 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThis study presents a new methodology for identifying near‐optimal sensor locations for contaminant source tracing in river networks. We define an optimal sensor placement as one that enables the best overall reconstruction of contaminant concentrations from observed data. To establish a physical basis for the problem, we first derive a linear time‐invariant (LTI) model for riverine contaminant transport using the one‐dimensional advection‐reaction‐diffusion equation. We then formulate an optimization problem to find the sensor placement that maximizes the observability of the modeled system and identify two heuristics for efficiently achieving this goal. By evaluating each sensor placement strategy on its ability to reconstruct initial contaminant loads from observed outputs, we find that the best sensor placement is obtained by maximizing the rank of the LTI system's Observability Gramian. This sensor placement strategy enables the best overall reconstruction of both magnitudes and distributions of nonpoint‐source contaminants. Our methodology will enable researchers to build sensor networks that better interpolate pollutant loads in ungauged locations, improve contaminant source identification, and inform more effective pollution control strategies.
A Signal Processing Approach to Correct Systematic Bias in Trend and Variability in Climate Model Simulations
Authors: Kusumastuti Cilcia , Jiang Ze , Mehrotra Rajeshwar , Sharma Ashish 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBias correction of General Circulation Model (GCM) is now an essential part of climate change studies. However, the climate change trend has been overlooked in majority of bias correction approaches. Here, a novel signal processing‐based approach for correcting systematic biases in the time‐varying trend of GCM simulations is proposed. The approach corrects for systematic deviations in spectral attributes of raw GCM simulations using discrete wavelet transforms. The order one and two moments of the underlying trend represented by the lowest frequency of wavelet component are corrected to ensure continuity in the corrected time series from the current to the future simulation period. The approach is applied to correct two data sets that exhibit opposite time‐varying trends representing the global mean sea level (GMSL) and the Arctic sea‐ice extent. Results indicate that bias in trend is corrected, while continuity in time and observed variability at all frequencies in current climate simulations are maintained.
Improving the Resolving Power of InSAR for Earthquakes Using Time Series: A Case Study in Iran
Authors: Liu F. , Elliott J. R. , Craig T. J. , Hooper A. , Wright T. J. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractInterferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) is an established method to measure earthquake surface displacements. However, due to decorrelation and atmospheric noise, only a certain fraction of earthquakes is readily observable with single interferograms. To enhance the potential of retrieving InSAR earthquake observations, we apply InSAR time series analysis and use several recent earthquakes (Mw 5.6–6.3, 2018–2019) in Iran as case studies. We find that the coseismic displacement signals of these earthquakes, which might not be discernible within single interferograms, are better resolved using our approach. We reconstruct the coseismic deformation fields by fitting surface displacements using a time series approach. We find that the reconstructed coseismic deformation fields yield more robust and seismologically consistent earthquake modeling results when compared to single coseismic interferograms. Our work suggests that a time series approach is an effective way to improve the resolving power of InSAR for earthquake studies.