bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic Utility of Combined 2D Ultrasonography and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography in Evaluation of Carotid Plaque Vulnerability for Predicting Recurrent Ischemic Strokes
Authors: Ye Fuyong , Yang Yuwen , Liang Yinting , Liu Jianhua 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of combined 2D ultrasonography (USG) and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in analyzing the carotid plaque vulnerability for predicting the recurrent ischemic strokes (IS). Methods: One hundred and fifteen patients with first IS were studied by 2D USG and CEUS. The carotid plaques were then classified on the basis of echogenicity (2D USG) and neovascularization (CEUS). The presence or absence of recurrent IS was considered as the dependent variable. Age, gender, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, history of smoking and drinking, type of plaque echogenicity, and grade of plaque neovascularization were considered as independent variables. The risk factors of recurrent IS were analyzed by both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Finally, the sensitivity and specificity of combined 2D USG and CEUS in the diagnosis of recurrent IS was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that hypertension, echogenicity type, and grade of plaque neovascularization were predictors of recurrent IS. Further, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the echogenicity type (OR=0.282, P=0.012) and grade of plaque neovascularization (OR=7.408, P<0.0001) were independent risk factors for recurrent IS. The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve of combined method were 0.865, 0.769, and 0.817, respectively (95%CI: 0.733-0.902, P<0.0001), which were higher than both 2D USG and CEUS.Conclusions: The echogenicity type and grade of plaque neovascularization are independent risk factors for recurrent IS. The combination of two methods has high sensitivity and specificity in predicting the recurrent IS.
Land Degradation Neutrality Assessment Using Geospatial Techniques in North Wello Zone, Northern Ethiopia
Authors: Tessera Getnet Zeleke , Zeleke Menberu Teshome , Mersha Linger Ayele 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Land degradation is increasingly recognized as a serious, nationwide environmental concern in Ethiopia. The key concern is the iterative relationship between land degradation, climate change and agriculture, exacerbating one another via negative and positive feedback loops. Due to the need for an efficient response to land degradation in the country, different sustainable land management practices have been implemented since the late 1980s. In Ethiopia, most of the previous researches were conducted on analyzing the determinants of decisions to implement land management practices. The objective of this study was to analyze land degradation neutrality status using remote sensing data in the study area. Results: We have studied the land degradation neutrality conditions of North Wello Zone by using indicators data, namely land cover change, land productivity dynamics and soil organic carbon stock. The areas of settlement consistently expanded at the fifth speed (2010-2018) from 1995 to 2010. Between 1995 and 2010, forestland declined by 18 percent, while it indicated an increasing trend of 26.8 percent from 2010 to 2018. The wetlands declined by 21.98 percent from 1995 to 2010; whereas zero net degradation was observed from 2010 to 2020. In addition, between 1995 and 2010, cropland and grassland showed an increasing trend but decreasing trends were detected between 2010 and 2018. Land productivity potential assessment results indicate that 52.8 percent of the total area is stable and characterized by a less stressed land productivity status. Approximately 22.7 percent of the land showed an increase in land productivity status from 2001 to 2018. The results also indicated that 19.64 percent of the land shows an early sign of decline or actual land productivity decline. 3.5 percent of land also shows a decline in productivity. The soil organic carbon is comparatively abundant in the high and midland vegetation areas but very thin in lowland areas.Conclusion: Most of the highland and midland parts of the study areas are stable and increasing land productivity condition with high biomass and soil organic content. However, most lowland areas showed a decline land productivity condition.
Neutrophils Correlate with Hypoxia Microenvironment and Promote Progression of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Zhang Chunyan , Tang Bingxiang , Hu Jianping , Fang Xiang , Bian Hongzhi , Han Junlei , Hou Congxia , Fang Sun 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Hypoxia, a strong and selective pressure, has been involved in invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis of tumor cells. Methods: ﻿Our study performed the transcriptome profiles of 666 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with clinical parameters from 3 microarray datasets. Various bioinformatic approaches were combined to evaluate the immune cell infiltration in the high hypoxia risk patients. In addition, in vitro experiments were performed to assess the effects of TANs on NSCLC cells proliferation, migration and invasion and to reveal the underlying mechanisms.Results: To develop a prognostic prediction model for NSCLC patients, we divided NSCLC into two groups (Cluster1/2) based on the expression profiles of hypoxia-associated genes. Compared with the Cluster1 subgroup, the Cluster2 had a worse prognosis. Signiﬁcant enrichment analysis revealed that PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) were highly related to hypoxia microenvironment. Eleven hypoxia-related genes were scored by LASSO COX regression to yield risk scores, and we revealed a significant difference in overall survival (OS) between the low- and high-risk groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration curves suggested that the risk score can predict survival in NSCLC. Mechanistically, CXCL6 in hypoxic cancer cells promoted the migration of TANs in vitro, and in turn promote NSCLC cells proliferation, migration and invasion. Conclusions: In summary, this study revealed a 11‐hypoxia gene signature that predicted OS of NSCLC patients, and improved our understanding of the role of TANs in hypoxia microenvironment.
Acyl Carrier Protein is essential for MukBEF action in Escherichia coli chromosome organization-segregation
Authors: Prince Josh , Bolla Jani , Fisher Gemma , Makela Jarno , Fournier Majorie , Robinson Carol , Arciszewska Lidia , Sherratt David 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) complexes contribute ubiquitously to chromosome organization-segregation. SMC proteins have a conserved architecture, with a dimerization hinge and an ATPase head domain separated by a long antiparallel intramolecular coiled-coil. Dimeric SMC proteins interact with essential accessory proteins, kleisins that bridge the two subunits of an SMC dimer, and HAWK/KITE accessory proteins that interact with kleisins. The ATPase activity of the Escherichia coli SMC protein, MukB, is essential for in vivo function and is regulated by interactions with its dimeric kleisin, MukF, and KITE, MukE. Here we demonstrate that, in addition, MukB interacts with Acyl Carrier Protein (AcpP) that has essential functions in fatty acid synthesis. We characterize the AcpP interaction site at the joint of the MukB coiled-coil and show that the interaction is essential for MukB ATPase and for MukBEF function in vivo. Therefore, AcpP is an essential co-factor for MukBEF action in chromosome organization-segregation.
Effect of Chocolate on Older Cancer Patients in Palliative Care: A Randomised Controlled Study
Authors: Vettori Josiane C. , da-Silva Luanda G. , Pfrimer Karina , A Jordão-Junior Alceu , Louzada-Junior Paulo , Moriguti Julio C. , Ferriolli Eduardo , Lima Nereida K.C. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
Older advanced stage cancer patients, with changes in metabolic and nutritional status, represent an important demand for palliative care. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of 4 weeks of chocolate consumption on the nutritional status, quality of life, body composition, oxidative stress and inflammaory activity of older cancer patients in palliative care.
Methods
Older cancer patients in palliative care with ambulatory monitoring were randomized to the following groups: control (CG, n = 15), intervention with 55% cocoa chocolate (IG1, n = 16) and intervention with white chocolate (IG2, n = 15) groups and evaluated before and after 4 weeks of treatment for nutritional status, food consumption, anthropometry, body composition, and laboratory parameters, and quality of life using the instrument of the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer.
Results
IG1 progressed with increased screening (p < 0.01) and nutritional (p = 0.04) scores on the Mini Nutritional Assessment tool. Anthropometry and body composition did not change. Regarding antioxidant capacity, reduced glutathione levels increased in IG2 (p = 0.04) and were higher than in IG1 (p < 0.01). Malondealdehyde levels were reduced in IG2 (p = 0.02) at the end of the study. Regarding quality of life, functionality improved in IG1, with a higher score in the functional domain (p = 0.03), and in the role functioning (p < 0.01) and in the social (p < 0.01) subdomains.
Conclusions
The consumption of chocolate with a greater cocoa content may contribute to the improvement of nutritional status and functionality among older cancer patients in palliative care. The consumption of white chocolate was associated with improved oxidative stress.
Trial registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04367493 - April 29, 2020. Retrospectively registered.
Presence of nanoplastics in rural and remote surface waters
Authors: Materić Dušan , Peacock Mike , Dean Joshua , Futter Martyn , Maximov Trofim , Moldan Filip , Röckmann Thomas , Holzinger Rupert 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
It is now established that microplastics are a pervasive presence in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The same is assumed to be true for nanoplastics but data are lacking due to technical difficulties associated with sample analysis. Here, we measured nanoplastics in waterbodies at two contrasting sites: remote Siberian Arctic tundra and a forest landscape in southern Sweden. Nanoplastics were detected in all sampled Swedish lakes (n = 7) and streams (n = 4) (mean concentration = 563 µg l− 1) and four polymer types were identified. In Siberia nanoplastics were detected in 7/12 sampled lakes, ponds and surface flooding, but only two polymer types were detected and concentrations were lower (mean 51 µg l− 1). Based on back-calculation of air mass trajectories, we infer that nanoplastics arrive at both sites by aerial deposition from local and regional sources. Our results suggest that nanoplastics may be a near-ubiquitous presence even in remote ecosystems.
Assessment of Carbon Substrate Catabolism Pattern and Functional Metabolic Pathway for Microbiota of Limestone Caves
Authors: Koner Suprokash , Chen Jung-Sheng , Hsu Bing-Mu , Tan Chao-Wen , Fan Cheng-Wei , Chen Tsung-Hsien , Hussain Bashir , Nagarajan Viji 
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP), a widespread biochemical process involving heterotopic bacterial communities, generally occurs in organic matter-rich environments. Limestone caves, whose oligotrophic conditions result from the absence of sunlight, are considered an extreme environment. In such environments, bacteria have the potential to form calcium carbonate. In this study, the microbial community diversity and taxonomical structure outside and inside a limestone cave was investigated with their community-level carbon source by fingerprinting and functional metabolic pathway prediction using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing analysis. The Biolog EcoPlate™ assay revealed that microbes from outside the cave were metabolically highly active, resulting in a rising carbon source utilization rate curve. Conversely, the microbial community within the cave was not very active in consuming the carbon substrates of Biolog EcoPlate™. Although major carbon sources were found to be used by microbial communities both inside and outside the cave, the microbial utilization rate of carbon bacteria inside was much lower than for bacteria outside the cave. The taxonomic classification of microbial diversity using 16S rRNA metagenomic analysis revealed eight predominant bacterial phyla associated with both sampling areas: Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, Nitrospirae, Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes, and Cyanobacteria. Among these, Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Nitrospirae were predominantly associated with external cave samples, whereas Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Gemmatimonadetes were associated with internal cave samples. Functional prediction analysis showed that bacterial communities both inside and outside the cave were functionally involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, other amino acid, lipids, xenobiotic compounds, energy metabolism, and environmental information processing. However, the amino acid and carbohydrate metabolic pathways were predominantly linked to the external cave samples, while xenobiotic compounds, lipids, other amino acids, and energy metabolism were associated with internal cave samples. Overall, a positive correlation was observed between Biolog EcoPlate™ assay carbon utilization and metagenomically observed metabolic function.
Severe Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Approaches of Pediatric Intensivists in Turkey PICUs: National Survey Results
Authors: Aslan Nagehan , Yildizdas Dincer 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Objectives: Guidelines for the pediatric severe traumatic brain injury were published in 2003, 2012, 2019 in order to establish a common treatment approach. In this study, our aim is to evaluate the approaches of the pediatric intensive care specialists in Turkey, towards the follow-up and treatment of severe traumatic brain injury through a survey that was prepared in the light of the guidelines for the pediatric severe traumatic brain injury, which was updated by Kochanek et al. Methods: The survey of forty-five questions on the SurveyMonkey was sent by e-mail to the centers, which were members of the Turkish Society of Pediatric Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine. Results: A total of 45 centers participated in the survey. In all centers, first choice imaging method in the traumatic brain injury was the cranial brain tomography. Regarding the follow-up of the increased intracranial pressure, all centers reported that they used cranial brain tomography. In addition, 20 (44.44%) centers mentioned using magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, 19 (42.22%) centers mentioned using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, 12 (26.67%) centers mentioned using ultrasonographic optic nerve sheath diameter measurement, and 7 (15.56%) centers mentioned using the transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. As the hyperosmolar therapy, 30 (65.22%) centers reported using 3% hypertonic saline and 16 (37.78%) reported using 3% hypertonic saline + mannitol. In rapid sequence intubation, the most common sedative drug used by the centers was midazolam. In addition, 40 (86.96%) centers stated that they did not use prophylactic hyperventilation in the first 48 hours. In the first 7 days, prophylactic antiepileptic drugs were administered in 44 centers (97.78%), and the most preferred antiepileptic drug was levetiracetam. Conclusion: The results of our survey supported that the pediatric intensive care specialists in our country planned a large percentage of the treatment for pediatric patients with severe traumatic brain injury in line with the guidelines, which were updated in 2019. In patients with severe traumatic brain injury, it is possible to obtain the good long-term prognosis, prevent the secondary injury, and decrease the morbidity and mortality with the administration of appropriate treatments in the acute period.
Socioeconomic Determinants of Renewable Energy Production in Emerging and Developed Countries
Authors: Elmassah Suzanna 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Energy is essential for development and economic growth, but traditional non-renewable energy sources are finite and have significant adverse environmental impacts. Therefore, there is an increasing interest in energy generation from renewable sources. However, research to date in this field does not sufficiently identify the common factors determining the uptake of renewable energy in emerging and developed countries. This paper addresses that gap by identifying the complex interrelationships between factors that determine the extent to which countries convert to renewable energy. The article's primary focus is a detailed statistical analysis of 10 developed and 16 emerging countries using annual data from 1976–2018. The objective is to examine the interrelationships and elasticities between increased production of renewable energy and three key socioeconomic variables; GDP, CO2 emissions, and oil price. This research uses panel data and time-series analyses to identify panel and country-specific elasticity of renewable energy production and dynamic causal relationships between these variables. It also applies fully modified and dynamic ordinary least square approaches. The study details the different interactions between the variables in each country. It uses an autoregressive distributed lag model to determine the long and short-run dynamics between renewable energy production and the three variables in each country. The paper shows there was a long-run elasticity between renewable energy and GDP in the developed countries and short-run dynamics between renewable energy and the other two variables. Whereas in the emerging countries category, there were long-run relationships between renewable energy and GDP, CO2 emissions, and oil price.
Chatter Detection in Milling Process Based on the Combination of Wavelet Packet Transform and PSO-SVM
Authors: Zheng Qingzhen , Chen Guangsheng , Jiao Anling 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Chatter has become the mainly limiting factor in the development of rapid and stable machining of machine tools, which seriously impacts on surface quality and dimensional accuracy of the finished workpiece. In this paper, a novel method of chatter recognition was proposed based on the combination of wavelet packet transform (WPT) and PSO-SVM in milling. The collected vibration signal was pre-processed by wavelet packet transform (WPT), and the wavelet packets with rich chatter information were selected and reconstructed. The selected wavelet packets can reduce the redundant noise and useless information. a combination of 10 time-domain and 4 frequency-domain feature parameters were obtained through calculating the reconstructed vibration signals. Compared to three methods of k-fold cross validation (k-CV), genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) to optimize the input parameters of SVM, the experiment results were shown that the PSO algorithm has is characterized by high accuracy. The proposed approach can recognize the stable, chatter and transition states more accurately than the other traditional approaches.
Information Needs and Experiences From Pregnancies Complicated by Hypertensive Disorders: a Qualitative Analysis of Narrative Responses
Authors: SHREE Raj , HATFIELD-TIMAJCHY Kendra , BREWER Alina , TSIGAS Eleni , VIDLER Marianne 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
BackgroundIncorporation of the patient voice is urgently needed in a broad array of health care settings, but it is particularly lacking in the obstetrical literature. Systematically derived information about patients’ experience with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), most notably preeclampsia, is necessary to improve patient-provider communication and ultimately inform patient-centered care and research. We sought to examine the information needs and experiences of individuals with pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders. MethodsWe conducted a qualitative content analysis of narrative-responses to an open-ended question from an online registry hosted by the Preeclampsia Foundation. Individuals were invited to enroll in The Preeclampsia Registry via social media, web searches, and newsletters. We restricted our analysis to participants who self-reported a history of HDP and responded to the open-ended question, “Is there any information that you could have had at the time of this pregnancy that would have been helpful?”. Available responses from July 2013 to March 2017 were included. Narrative responses were coded, reconciled, and thematically analyzed by multiple coders using an inductive approach. Our main outcome measures included participants’ expressed needs and additional concerns with respect to their HDP pregnancy.ResultsOf 3202 enrolled participants, 1850 completed the survey and self-reported having at least one pregnancy complicated by HDP, of which 895 (48.4%) responded to the open-ended question. Participants delivered in the United States (83%) and 27 other countries. Compared to non-responders, responders reported more severe HDP phenotypes and adverse offspring outcomes. We identified three principal themes from responses: patient-identified needs, management and counseling, and potential action. Responses revealed that participants’ baseline understanding of HDP, including symptoms, management, therapeutic strategies, and postpartum complications, was demonstrably lacking. Responders strongly desired improved counseling so that both they and their providers could collaboratively diagnose, appropriately manage, and robustly and continuously communicate to facilitate a partnership to address any HDP complications.Conclusions Participants’ responses regarding their HDP experience provide indispensable insight into the patient’s perspectives. Our study suggests that improved education regarding possible HDP complications and enriched provider counseling when considering an HDP diagnosis are needed and efforts to implement these strategies should be sought. Trial registrationThe Preeclampsia Registry: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02020174
Adaptive Neurons Compute Confidence In A Decision Network
Authors: Li Luozheng , Wang DaHui 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Human and many animals can asses the confidence of their decisions. However, little has been known about the underlying neural substrate and mechanism. Here we proposed a computational model consisting of one group of ’confidence neurons’ with adaptation, which is able to asses the confidence of decision by detecting the slope of ramping activities of decision neurons. The simulated activities of ’confidence neurons’ in our simple model capture the typical features of confidence in human and animals experiments. Our results indicate that confidence could be online formed along with the decision formation and the adaptation properties could be used to monitor the decision confidence in artificial intelligence.