bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Accurate prediction of clinical stroke scales and improved biomarkers of motor impairment from robotic measurements
Authors: Agrafiotis Dimitris K. , Yang Eric , Littman Gary S. , Byttebier Geert , Dipietro Laura , DiBernardo Allitia , Chavez Juan C. , Rykman Avrielle , McArthur Kate , Hajjar Karim , Lees Kennedy R. , Volpe Bruce T. , Krams Michael , Krebs Hermano I. 
Published: January 2021

ObjectiveOne of the greatest challenges in clinical trial design is dealing with the subjectivity and variability introduced by human raters when measuring clinical end-points. We hypothesized that robotic measures that capture the kinematics of human movements collected longitudinally in patients after stroke would bear a significant relationship to the ordinal clinical scales and potentially lead to the development of more sensitive motor biomarkers that could improve the efficiency and cost of clinical trials.Materials and methodsWe used clinical scales and a robotic assay to measure arm movement in 208 patients 7, 14, 21, 30 and 90 days after acute ischemic stroke at two separate clinical sites. The robots are low impedance and low friction interactive devices that precisely measure speed, position and force, so that even a hemiparetic patient can generate a complete measurement profile. These profiles were used to develop predictive models of the clinical assessments employing a combination of artificial ant colonies and neural network ensembles.ResultsThe resulting models replicated commonly used clinical scales to a cross-validated R2of 0.73, 0.75, 0.63 and 0.60 for the Fugl-Meyer, Motor Power, NIH stroke and modified Rankin scales, respectively. Moreover, when suitably scaled and combined, the robotic measures demonstrated a significant increase in effect size from day 7 to 90 over historical data (1.47 versus 0.67).Discussion and conclusionThese results suggest that it is possible to derive surrogate biomarkers that can significantly reduce the sample size required to power future stroke clinical trials.
Low frequency mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy SNPs in blood, retina, and [RPE+choroid] of age-related macular degeneration subjects
Authors: Atilano Shari R. , Udar Nitin , Satalich Timothy A. , Udar Viraat , Chwa Marilyn , Kenney M. Cristina 
Published: January 2021

Purpose
Mitochondrial (mt) DNA damage is associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other human aging diseases. This study was designed to quantify and characterize mtDNA low-frequency heteroplasmy single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of three different tissues isolated from AMD subjects using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology.

Methods
DNA was extracted from neural retina, [RPE+choroid] and blood from three deceased age-related macular degeneration (AMD) subjects. Entire mitochondrial genomes were analyzed for low-frequency heteroplasmy SNPs using NGS technology that independently sequenced both mtDNA strands. This deep sequencing method (average sequencing depth of 30,000; range 1,000–100,000) can accurately differentiate low-frequency heteroplasmy SNPs from DNA modification artifacts. Twenty-three ‘hot-spot’ heteroplasmy mtDNA SNPs were analyzed in 222 additional blood samples.

Results
Germline homoplasmy SNPs that defined mtDNA haplogroups were consistent in the three tissues of each subject. Analyses of SNPs with <40% heteroplasmy revealed the blood had significantly greater numbers of heteroplasmy SNPs than retina alone (p≤0.05) or retina+choroid combined (p = 0.008). Twenty-three ‘hot-spot’ mtDNA heteroplasmy SNPs were present, with three being non-synonymous (amino acid change). Four ‘hot-spot’ heteroplasmy SNPs (m.1120C>T, m.1284T>C, m.1556C>T, m.7256C>T) were found in additional samples (n = 222). Five heteroplasmy SNPs (m.4104A>G, m.5320C>T, m.5471G>A, m.5474A>G, m.5498A>G) declined with age. Two heteroplasmy SNPs (m.13095T>C, m.13105A>G) increased in AMD compared to Normal samples. In the heteroplasmy SNPs, very few transversion mutations (purine to pyrimidine or vice versa, associated with oxidative damage) were found and the majority were transition changes (purine to purine or pyrimidine to pyrimidine, associated with replication errors).

Conclusion
Within an individual, the blood, retina and [RPE+choroid] contained identical homoplasmy SNPs representing inherited germline mtDNA haplogroup. NGS methodology showed significantly more mtDNA heteroplasmy SNPs in blood compared to retina and [RPE+choroid], suggesting the latter tissues have substantial protection. Significantly higher heteroplasmy levels of m.13095T>C and m.13105A>G may represent potential AMD biomarkers. Finally, high levels of transition mutations suggest that accumulation of heteroplasmic SNPs may occur through replication errors rather than oxidative damage.
Early risk markers for severe clinical course and fatal outcome in German patients with COVID-19
Authors: Balfanz Paul , Hartmann Bojan , Müller-Wieland Dirk , Kleines Michael , Häckl Dennis , Kossack Nils , Kersten Alexander , Cornelissen Christian , Müller Tobias , Daher Ayham , Stöhr Robert , Bickenbach Johannes , Marx Gernot , Marx Nikolaus , Dreher Michael 
Published: January 2021

Background
Some patients with Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) develop a severe clinical course with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and fatal outcome. Clinical manifestations and biomarkers in early stages of disease with relevant predictive impact for outcomes remain largely unexplored. We aimed to identify parameters which are significantly different between subgroups.

Design
125 patients with COVID-19 were analysed. Patients with ARDS (N = 59) or non-ARDS (N = 66) were compared, as well as fatal outcome versus survival in the two groups.

Key results
ARDS and non-ARDS patients did not differ with respect to comorbidities or medication on developing a fatal outcome versus survival. Body mass index was higher in patients with ARDS versus non-ARDS (p = 0.01), but not different within the groups in survivors versus non-survivors. Interleukin-6 levels on admission were higher in patients with ARDS compared to non-ARDS as well as in patients with fatal outcome versus survivors, whereas lymphocyte levels were lower in the different subgroups (all p<0.05). There was a highly significant 3.5-fold difference in fever load in non-survivors compared to survivors (p<0.0001). Extrapulmonary viral spread was detected more often in patients with fatal outcome compared to survivors (P = 0.01). Further the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in serum showed a significantly more severe course and an increased risk of death (both p<0.05).

Conclusions
We have identified early risk markers for a severe clinical course, like ARDS or fatal outcome. This data might help develop a strategy to address new therapeutic options early in patients with COVID-19 and at high risk for fatal outcome.
The differential impact of pediatric COVID-19 between high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review of fatality and ICU admission in children worldwide
Authors: Kitano Taito , Kitano Mao , Krueger Carsten , Jamal Hassan , Al Rawahi Hatem , Lee-Krueger Rachelle , Sun Rose Doulin , Isabel Sandra , García-Ascaso Marta Taida , Hibino Hiromi , Camara Bettina , Isabel Marc , Cho Leanna , Groves Helen E. , Piché-Renaud Pierre-Philippe , Kossov Michael , Kou Ikuho , Jon Ilsu , Blanchard Ana C. , Matsuda Nao , Mahood Quenby , Wadhwa Anupma , Bitnun Ari , Morris Shaun K. 
Published: January 2021

Background
The overall global impact of COVID-19 in children and regional variability in pediatric outcomes are presently unknown.

Methods
To evaluate the magnitude of global COVID-19 death and intensive care unit (ICU) admission in children aged 0–19 years, a systematic review was conducted for articles and national reports as of December 7, 2020. This systematic review is registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42020179696).

Results
We reviewed 16,027 articles as well as 225 national reports from 216 countries. Among the 3,788 global pediatric COVID-19 deaths, 3,394 (91.5%) deaths were reported from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), while 83.5% of pediatric population from all included countries were from LMIC. The pediatric deaths/1,000,000 children and case fatality rate (CFR) were significantly higher in LMIC than in high-income countries (HIC) (2.77 in LMIC vs 1.32 in HIC; p < 0.001 and 0.24% in LMIC vs 0.01% in HIC; p < 0.001, respectively). The ICU admission/1,000,000 children was 18.80 and 1.48 in HIC and LMIC, respectively (p < 0.001). The highest deaths/1,000,000 children and CFR were in infants < 1 year old (10.03 and 0.58% in the world, 5.39 and 0.07% in HIC and 10.98 and 1.30% in LMIC, respectively).

Conclusions
The study highlights that there may be a larger impact of pediatric COVID-19 fatality in LMICs compared to HICs.
Farklı yaş gruplarında ilkokula başlayan öğrencilerin altıncı sınıf akademik başarılarının, öz yeterliklerinin ve psikolojik sağlamlıklarının incelenmesi
Authors: Oktay Ayla , Doğan Handan , Özcan Zeynep Çiğdem , Dönmez Özlem , Özdemir Hamdi 
Published: January 2021

Bu çalışmada farklı yaş gruplarında ilkokula başlayan ve boylamsal izlemi yapılan öğrencilerin altıncı sınıf akademik başarılarının, öz yeterliklerinin ve psikolojik sağlamlıklarının incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu İstanbul ili Anadolu yakasında altıncı sınıfa devam eden ve 73’ü boylamsal izlenenler olmak üzere toplam 485 öğrenci oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmanın nicel verilerini toplamak amacıyla Çocuk ve Genç Psikolojik Sağlamlık Ölçeği, Çocuklar İçin Öz Yeterlik Ölçeği, Matematik Performans Testi, Türkçe Performans Testi; nitel verileri toplamak için ise araştırmacılar tarafından oluşturulan Cümle Tamamlama Formu kullanılmıştır. Bağımsız değişkenlerin yaşa göre farklılaşıp farklılaşmadığını analiz etmek için Kruskal Wallis H Testi kullanılmış, öğrencilerin anıları ise içerik analizi yapılarak kategorileştirilmiş, temalara ayrılmıştır. Yapılan analizler sonucunda hem boylamsal olarak izlemi yapılan öğrencilerin hem de bütün çalışma grubunun, akademik başarıları, öz yeterlikleri ve psikolojik sağlamlıklarının ilkokula başlama yaşına göre artık anlamlı bir farklılığının kalmadığı görülmüştür. Öğrencilerin ilkokula başladıkları güne dair anılarını içeren nitel bulgulara göre ise ilkokula erken yaşta başlayan öğrencilerin okulda ilk günlerine dair daha fazla olumsuz ifadeler kullandıkları görülmüştür. Elde edilen sonuçlar ilgili alan yazın çerçevesinde tartışılmıştır.
Caenorhabditis elegansF-Box Protein Promotes Axon Regeneration by Inducing Degradation of the Mad Transcription Factor
Authors: Shimizu Tatsuhiro , Pastuhov Strahil I. , Hanafusa Hiroshi , Sakai Yoshiki , Todoroki Yasuko , Hisamoto Naoki , Matsumoto Kunihiro 
Published: January 2021

InCaenorhabditis elegans, axon regeneration is activated by a signaling cascade through the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) SVH-2. Axonal injury inducessvh-2gene expression by degradation of the Mad-like transcription factor MDL-1. In this study, we identify thesvh-24/sdz-33gene encoding a protein containing F-box and F-box-associated domains as a regulator of axon regeneration in motor neurons. We find thatsdz-33is required for axon injury-inducedsvh-2expression. SDZ-33 targets MDL-1 for poly-ubiquitylation and degradation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that SDZ-33 promotes axotomy-induced nuclear degradation of MDL-1, resulting in the activation ofsvh-2expression in animals. These results suggest that the F-box protein is required for RTK signaling in the control of axon regeneration.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTInCaenorhabditis elegans, axon regeneration is positively regulated by the growth factor SVH-1 and its receptor tyrosine kinase SVH-2. Expression of thesvh-2gene is induced by axonal injury via the Ets-like transcription factor ETS-4, whose transcriptional activity is inhibited by the Mad-like transcription factor MDL-1. Axon injury leads to the degradation of MDL-1, and this is linked to the activation of ETS-4 transcriptional activity. In this study, we identify thesdz-33gene encoding a protein containing an F-box domain as a regulator of axon regeneration. We demonstrate that MDL-1 is poly-ubiquitylated and degraded through the SDZ-33-mediated 26S proteasome pathway. These results reveal that an F-box protein promotes axon regeneration by degrading the Mad transcription factor.
Perlindungan Nasabah Bank Terhadap Tindakan Phishing Studi Pada PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
Authors: Rahmadian Febbyanti , Maksum Muhammad , Rambe Mara Sutan 
Published: January 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui perlindungan yang diberikan oleh PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, yang dikenal dengan Bank BRI terhadap nasabahnya dari tindakan kejahatan phishing. Penelitian ini menjelaskan dasar dari adanya tanggung jawab bank untuk melindungi nasabahnya dari tindakan phishing, berbagai regulasi mengenai perlindungan nasabah dari tindakan phishing di Indonesia, dan bagaimana implementasi Bank BRI dalam melindungi nasabahnya dari tindakan phishing, baik secara preventif dan represif. Metode Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan perundang-undangan (statue approach) dengan menggunakan Undang-Undang Nomor 10 Tahun 1998 tentang Perubahan Atas Undang-Undang Nomor 7 Tahun 1992 tentang Perbankan dan menggunakan pendekatan konsep (conceptual approach) yang digunakan untuk mengetahui bentuk perlindungan yang ideal terhadap nasabah bank dari tindakan phishing. Penelitian ini membuktikan bahwa upaya perlindungan terhadap nasabah di Bank BRI dari tindakan phishing dapat terwujud jika nasabah sadar akan hak dan kewajibannya, kemudian Bank BRI lebih aktif dalam memberikan edukasi kepada nasabahnya. Upaya yang dilakukan bank BRI dalam melindungi nasabah nya dari tindakan phishing secara preventing adalah memberikan edukasi, menerapkan manajemen risiko, serta memperkuat sistem teknologi informasinya. Sedangkan dalam bentuk represif adalah menerima pengaduan dalam menyelesaikan pengaduan tersebut dalam kurun waktu sebagaimana tercantum dalam undang-undang. Apabila terbukti tindakan phishing karena kesalahan BRI, maka nasabah berhak memperoleh pertanggung jawaban berupa pengembalian uang.Kata Kunci : E-Banking, Phishing, Perlindungan Hukum
Wearable nanocomposite kinesiology tape for distributed muscle engagement monitoring
Authors: Lin Yun-An , schraefel m. c. , Chiang Wei-Hung , Loh Kenneth J. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSports coaches help athletes develop and improve their skills by assessing their ability to perform motion primitives that make up functional sports tasks. Sports coaching today is mostly done visually, which demands constant attention and can be imprecise. While sensors like electronic textiles and surface electromyography can measure muscle engagement, they are susceptible to movement artifacts and noise due to surface electrode issues. Therefore, the work reported here focuses on our development of self-adhesive, fabric-based sensors that can be directly affixed onto skin for monitoring skin-strains and distributed muscular engagement during functional movements. The vision is that these sensors can be readily used by sports coaches and individuals to better assess motion primitives and the execution of sports tasks. The approach integrates piezoresistive graphene nanosheet thin films with kinesiology tape (K-Tape). Because every location of the film is responsive to strains, electrodes can also be judiciously placed along the nanocomposite for distributed strain sensing. Nanocomposite or “Smart K-Tape” sensors were fabricated, and electromechanical tests were conducted to characterize their tensile, compressive, and cyclic sensing properties. Upon confirming their linearity, repeatability, stability, and high sensitivity, individuals wore Smart K-Tape sensors over different muscle groups as they performed prescribed exercise and stretching movements. The Smart K-Tapes outputted unique waveforms that revealed the speed and duration of muscular engagement through movement sequences. Furthermore, the region of muscular contraction could also be localized using each Smart K-Tape as a distributed strain sensor, which demonstrated promise as a convenient and quantitative motion primitive assessment tool relevant for sports coaching and athletic skills development.
Quantifying Duration of Proteinuria Remission and Association with Clinical Outcome in IgA Nephropathy
Authors: Canney Mark , Barbour Sean J. , Zheng Yuyan , Coppo Rosanna , Zhang Hong , Liu Zhi-Hong , Matsuzaki Keiichi , Suzuki Yusuke , Katafuchi Ritsuko , Reich Heather N. , Cattran Daniel ,   for the International IgA Nephropathy Network
Published: January 2021

Background
On the basis of findings of observational studies and a meta-analysis, proteinuria reduction has been proposed as a surrogate outcome in IgA nephropathy. How long a reduction in proteinuria needs to be maintained to mitigate the long-term risk of disease progression is unknown.

Methods
In this retrospective multiethnic cohort of adult patients with IgA nephropathy, we defined proteinuria remission as a ≥25% reduction in proteinuria from the peak value after biopsy, and an absolute reduction in proteinuria to <1 g/d. The exposure of interest was the total duration of first remission, treated as a time-varying covariate using longitudinal proteinuria measurements. We used time-dependent Cox proportional hazards regression models to quantify the association between the duration of remission and the primary outcome (ESKD or a 50% reduction in eGFR).

Results
During a median follow-up of 3.9 years, 274 of 1864 patients (14.7%) experienced the primary outcome. The relationship between duration of proteinuria remission and outcome was nonlinear. Each 3 months in sustained remission up to approximately 4 years was associated with an additional 9% reduction in the risk of disease progression (hazard ratio [HR], 0.91; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.89 to 0.93). Thereafter, each additional 3 months in remission was associated with a smaller, nonsignificant risk reduction (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.96 to 1.03). These findings were robust to multivariable adjustment and consistent across clinical and histologic subgroups.

Conclusions
Our findings support the use of proteinuria as a surrogate outcome in IgA nephropathy, but additionally demonstrate the value of quantifying the duration of proteinuria remission when estimating the risk of hard clinical endpoints.
Spatial and temporal analysis of the mid-summer dry spells for the summer rainfall region of South Africa
Authors: MG Mengistu  , C Olivier  , JO Botai  , AM Adeola  , S Daniel  
Published: January 2021

South Africa is frequently subjected to severe droughts and dry spells during the rainy season. As such, rainfall is one of the most significant factors limiting dryland crop production in South Africa. The mid-summer period is particularly important for agriculture since a lack of rain during this period negatively affects crop yields. Dry spell frequency analyses are used to investigate the impacts of sub-seasonal rainfall variability on crop yield, since seasonal rainfall totals alone do not explain the relationship between rainfall and crop yields. This study investigated the spatial and temporal occurrences of the mid-summer dry spells based on magnitude, length and time of occurrence in the major maize growing areas of the summer rainfall region of South Africa. Three thresholds of 5 mm, 10 mm, and 15 mm total rainfall for a pentad were used for the analysis of dry spells. Dry spell analysis showed that dry pentads occur during mid-summer with differing intensity, duration and frequency across the summer rainfall region. Annual frequency of dry pentads for the mid-summer period ranged between 0 and 4 pentads for the 5 mm threshold and 1 to 7 for the 10 mm and 15 mm thresholds. The non-parametric Mann-Kendall trend analysis of the dry pentads indicates that there is no significant trend in the frequency of dry spells at a 95% confidence level. The initial and conditional probabilities of getting a dry spell using the Markov chain model also showed that there is a 32% to 80% probability that a single pentad will be dry using the 15 mm threshold. There is a 5% to 48% probability of experiencing two consecutive dry pentads and 1% to 29% probability of getting three consecutive dry pentads. The duration and intensity of dry spells, as well as the Markov chain probabilities, showed a decrease in dry spells from west to east of the maize-growing areas of the summer rainfall region of South Africa.
Effect of reactor characteristics on the seasonal effectiveness of solar disinfection: a factorial study
Authors: Ekene Jude Nwankwo  , Jonah Chukwuemeka Agunwamba  
Published: January 2021

Solar disinfection (SODIS) involves exposing water stored in transparent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers to the sun for about 6 h of strong sunlight, after which the water is rendered safe for consumption. This study investigated the seasonal effect of reactor characteristics on the inactivation kinetics/constant of faecal coliforms by conducting a 23 factorial experiment, involving two levels of PET bottle size, PET bottle thickness, and PET bottle rear surface, uniquely combined to form 8 SODIS reactors/experimental units. The faecal coliform population of hourly samples taken from the 8 SODIS reactors showed that the inactivation kinetics/constant depends on the irradiation energy and maximum water temperature as dictated by the reactor characteristics. The average rate constant of the reflective reactors (1.37 ± 0.43 h-1) was significantly better (p < 0.001) than the absorptive reactors (1.17 ± 0.59 h-1) between June and October. The average rate constant of the small PET bottles (1.73 ± 0.65 h-1) is significantly higher (p < 0.002) than the large PET bottles (1.46 ± 0.51 h-1) from December to May; while the average rate constant of the light PET bottles (1.58 ± 0.64 h-1) is significantly better (p < 0.001) than the thick PET bottles (1.41 ± 0.52 h-1) year-round. Analyses of results confirmed a two-way interaction effect between PET bottle size and PET bottle thickness and between PET bottle rear surface and PET bottle thickness for periods with average radiation intensity of 450–500 W∙m−2. Although container size and thickness were the most significant factors, combining light PET bottles with absorptive rear-surface could extend the applicability of SODIS to regions that fall short of the recommended radiation intensity threshold of 500 W∙m−2 for 5 h.