bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Circulating calprotectin as a supporting inflammatory marker in discriminating SARS-CoV-2 infection: an observational study
Authors: Cherubini Fabio , Cristiano Antonio , Valentini Alessandra , Bernardini Sergio , Nuccetelli Marzia 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Objective and design
Fecal calprotectin (CLP) is widely known for its detection in stools of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), to investigate the intestinal inflammatory status. Current research is promoting the circulating protein role as a systemic inflammatory marker. However, most studies report serum calprotectin analysis although plasma assay prevents its massive release by granulocytes. In this perspective, the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic deserves deployment of convenient and easy-to-dose markers that could reliably address the state of infection.

Methods
We analyzed serum circulating calprotectin (cCLP) levels in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and plasma cCLP levels from patients with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection, then assessed negative or positive on molecular tests.

Results
Our results confirm a significant circulating calprotectin increase in infected subjects respect to controls, in serum and plasma. Moreover, plasma calprotectin has higher levels in suspected patients with positive SARS-CoV-2-RT-PCR, compared to suspected patients with negative SARS-CoV-2-RT-PCR. Furthermore, ROC curves results showed the circulating plasma calprotectin discriminatory ability to differentiate infected SARS-CoV-2 patients at a cutoff value greater than 131.3 ng/ml.

Conclusions
Our data propose circulating calprotectin as a new, quantitative and predictive marker, which in addition to being an interesting generic inflammatory marker may provide important indications in SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Identification of Quarry Blasts Aided by Infrasound Data
Authors: Czanik Csenge , Kiszely Márta , Mónus Péter , Süle Bálint , Bondár István 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWe present our analysis of the detections from the Piszkés-tető, Hungary infrasound array that has been operational since May 2017. We introduce an automatic search method to associate infrasound detections with a preliminary list of explosions detected by the seismic network. Once infrasound detections are associated with seismic events, we relocate the events using both the seismic arrival time and infrasound azimuth observations. We validate our methodology on ground truth events, i.e., explosions confirmed by the mine operators. We demonstrate that seismo-acoustic locations are able to identify the source of explosions even for closely spaced quarries. The discriminative power of the infrasound azimuth is strongest at near-field distances, where local and regional seismic discrimination methods have the most difficulties.
Effects of interconnections between timber floor elements: dynamic and static evaluations of structural scale tests
Authors: Nesheim Sveinung , Malo Kjell Arne , Labonnote Nathalie 
Published: May 2021

AbstractLong-span timber floor elements increase the flexibility of a building and exhibit a significant market potential. Timber floor elements are endeavouring to fulfil this potential, but building projects employing long-span timber floors have encountered drawbacks. High costs and vibration performance are challenging, and the timber industry is under substantial pressure to find attractive solutions for building components with otherwise favourable environmental features. Only a few existing studies have investigated serviceability sensitivity in relation to timber floor connections. Interconnections are inexpensive to produce and install and may offer a resource-efficient approach to improving serviceability performance. In the present study, the effect of interconnections is investigated in a full-scale structural test. Floor elements positioned in different configurations have been tested for static and dynamic performance using different types of interconnections. The observed effects of interconnection types vary according to the configuration and direction of mode shapes, and are assessed in terms of shift in frequency, damping and resonant energy. These can all be utilised in combination with observed differences in the deflection parameter. The present work demonstrates that connections between timber elements have significant effects on timber floor serviceability and may offer interesting solutions to improve the vibration performance of long-span timber floors.
On the Kodaira vanishing theorem for log del Pezzo surfaces in positive characteristic
Authors: Arvidsson Emelie 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWe investigate the vanishing of $$H^1(X,\mathcal {O}_X(-D))$$

H
1

(
X
,

O
X

(
-
D
)

)

for a big and nef $$\mathbb {Q}$$
Q
-Cartier $$\mathbb {Z}$$
Z
-divisor D on a log del Pezzo pair $$(X,\Delta )$$

(
X
,
Δ
)

over a perfect field of positive characteristic p.
Competitive Double Diffusive Convection in a Kelvin–Voigt Fluid of Order One
Authors: Straughan Brian 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWe present a model for convection in a Kelvin–Voigt fluid of order one when the layer is heated from below and simultaneously salted from below, a problem of competitive double diffusion since heating from below promotes instability, but salting from below is stabilizing. The instability surface threshold is calculated and this has a complex shape. The Kelvin–Voigt parameters play an important role in acting as stabilizing agents when the convection is of oscillatory type. Quantitative values of the instability surface are displayed. The nonlinear stability problem is briefly addressed.
The occurrence of Nematoda in coastal sea ice on Svalbard (European Arctic) determined with the 18S small subunit rRNA gene
Authors: Pitusi Vanessa , Søreide Janne E. , Hassett Brandon T. , Marquardt Miriam , Andreasen Magnus Heide 
Published: May 2021

AbstractUnderstanding the diversity and functioning of Arctic sea ice ecosystems is vital to evaluate and predict the impact of current and future climate change. In the microscopic communities inhabiting the brine channels inside sea ice, nematodes often dominate numerically and act as bacterivores and herbivores. Despite nematodes great abundances and known ecological roles, molecular tools have not been applied to investigate their species diversity in sea ice. In an attempt to begin establishing a molecular baseline for species diversity of sea ice nematodes, we Sanger sequenced 74 specimens from four locations around Svalbard (European Arctic), using the 18S rRNA barcode. Currently available nucleotide reference databases are both underpopulated with representative marine nematode taxa and contain a substantial number of misidentified organisms. Together, these limitations inhibited the ability to identify marine specimens collected in this study with certainty. Nevertheless, our molecular data indicate the presence of two genera in sea ice on Svalbard—TheristusandHalomonhystera.While it is possible that the latter represents a novel ice nematode species, future studies, including morphometric analysis, are needed to verify our molecular findings. We leverage the assignment of molecular information to robustly identify nematodes and provide the first insight into the diversity of sea ice nematodes in the European Arctic. We advocate for an intensified cooperation between molecular and morphological taxonomists to expedite the establishment of baseline surveys that are required to predict biological consequences of the diminishing sea ice habitat in the future.
Effect of inhaled anaesthetics gases on cytokines and oxidative stress alterations for the staff health status in hospitals
Authors: AL-Rasheedi Khaled A. , Alqasoumi Abdulmajeed A. , Emara Ashraf M. 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Objectives
The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of waste anaesthetic gases on cytokines and oxidative stress of hospital health team members following exposure to waste anaesthetic gases (WAGs).

Subjects and methods
In total, 180 participants took part in this study; 60 of these were healthy male controls and the 120 participants in the intervention group were staff who work in the operating room. This latter group comprises six occupational subgroups (1) surgeons, (2) surgical assistants, (3) anaesthesiologists (4) anaesthesiology assistants, (5) nurses and (6) janitors. The following parameters were assessed: catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, plasma fluoride, serum interferon gamma (IFN-γ), serum interleukin 2 (IL2), serum interleukin 4 (IL4) and plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS).

Results
Anaesthesiologists and their assistants exhibited the highest levels of plasma fluoride, serum IFN-γ and IL 2, exceeding the levels in detected in all the other occupational subgroups. Furthermore, the serum levels of IL4 were significantly raised in anaesthesiologists and the difference between this group and other groups was statistically significant. However, compared with the other subgroups, surgeons exhibited elevated plasma TBARS and reduced CAT, GSHpx and SOD; these variances were also statistically significant.

Conclusion and recommendations
The findings of this study indicate that operating room staff exposed to WAGs are vulnerable to experiencing immunotoxicity as the WAGs are considered to initiate oxidative stress and increase the levels of cytokines in serum. Thus, an education programme is warranted to inform staff working in environments where they may be subjected to WAGs on the effects that the gases can have upon their health and how to minimise their exposure to WAGs. An ongoing effort is also needed to ensure anaesthesia safety standards are maintained at all times. The findings of this study may provide a springboard for future research into occupational exposure to WAGs and their wider effect upon health.
Enhancement of Zn tolerance and accumulation in plants mediated by the expression of Saccharomyces cerevisiae vacuolar transporter ZRC1
Authors: DalCorso Giovanni , Martini Flavio , Fasani Elisa , Manara Anna , Visioli Giovanna , Furini Antonella 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Main conclusion
Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana and Populus alba plants overexpressing the zinc transporter ScZRC1 in shoots exhibit Zn tolerance. Increased Zn concentrations were observed in shoots of P. alba, a species suitable for phytoremediation.

Abstract
Genetic engineering of plants for phytoremediation is worth to consider if genes leading to heavy metal accumulation and tolerance are expressed in high biomass producing plants. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae ZRC1 gene encodes a zinc transporter which is primarily involved in the uptake of Zn into the vacuole. The ZRC1 gene was expressed in the model species A. thaliana and P. alba (cv. Villafranca). Both species were transformed with constructs carrying ScZRC1 under the control of either the CaMV35S promoter for constitutive expression or the active promoter region of the tobacco Rubisco small subunit (pRbcS) to limit the expression to the above-ground tissues. In hydroponic cultures, A. thaliana and poplar ScZRC1-expressing plants accumulated more Zn in vegetative tissues and were more tolerant than untransformed plants. No differences were found between plants carrying the CaMV35::ScZRC1 or pRbcS::ScZRC1 constructs. The higher Zn accumulation in transgenic plants was accompanied by an increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, indicating the activation of defense mechanisms to prevent cellular damage. In the presence of cadmium in addition to Zn, plants did not show symptoms of metal toxicity, neither in hydroponic cultures nor in soil. Zn accumulation increased in shoots, while no differences were observed for Cd accumulation, in comparison to control plants. These data suggest that ectopic expression of ScZRC1 can increase the potential of poplar for the remediation of Zn-polluted soils, although further tests are required to assay its application in remediating multimetal polluted soils.
Current decision support tools fail to agree or predict therapeutic decisions in a single cohort of unruptured intracranial aneurysms
Authors: Kailaya-Vasan Ahilan , Frantzias Joseph , Kailaya-Vasan Jayantan , Anderson Ian A. , Walsh Daniel C. 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Background
There is limited evidence to direct the management of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Models extrapolated from existing data have been proposed to guide treatment recommendations. The aim of this study is to assess whether a consensus-based treatment score (UIATS) or rupture rate estimation model (PHASES) can be used to benchmark UK multi-disciplinary team (MDT) practice.

Methods
Prospective data was collected on a consecutive series of all patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) presenting to a major UK neurovascular centre between 2012 and 2015. The agreement between the UIATS and PHASES scores, and their sensitivity and specificity in predicting the real-world MDT outcome were calculated and compared.

Results
A total of 366 patients (456 aneurysms) were included in the analysis. The agreement between UIATS and MDT recommendation was low (weighted kappa 0.26 [95% CI 0.19, 0.32]); sensitivity and specificity were also low at 36% and 52% respectively. Groups that the MDT allocated to treatment, equipoise or no treatment had significantly different PHASES scores (p = 0.004). There was no significant difference between the two scores when predicting patients for whom MDT outcome was to recommend aneurysm treatment, but the UIATS score was superior in predicting patients who received an MDT recommendation of ‘treatment-equipoise’, or ‘not-for-treatment’ (AUC of 0.73 compared to 0.59 for PHASES).

Conclusions
The models studied failed to agree with the consensus view of multi-disciplinary team in a major neurovascular centre. We conclude that decision support tools such as the UIATS and PHASES scores should not be blindly introduced in respective institutions without prior internal validation, as they may not represent the local reality.
In-vitro performance of a single-chambered total artificial heart in a Fontan circulation
Authors: Hildebrand Stephan , Groß-Hardt Sascha , Schmitz-Rode Thomas , Steinseifer Ulrich , Jansen Sebastian Victor 
Published: May 2021

AbstractAn in-vitro study was conducted to investigate the general feasibility of using only one pumping chamber of the SynCardia total artificial heart (TAH) as a replacement of the single ventricle palliated by Fontan circulation. A mock circulation loop was used to mimic a Fontan circulation. The combination of both ventricle sizes (50 and 70 cc) and driver (Freedom Driver and Companion C2 Driver) was investigated. Two clinical relevant scenarios (early Fontan; late Fontan) as derived from literature data were set up in the mock loop. The impact of increased transpulmonary pressure gradient, low atrial pressure, and raised central venous pressure on cardiac output was studied. From a hemodynamic point, the single-chambered TAH performed sufficiently in the setting of the Fontan circulation. Increased transpulmonary pressure gradient, from ideal to pulmonary hypertension, decreased the blood flow in combinations by almost 2 L/min. In the early Fontan scenario, a cardiac output of 3–3.5 L/min was achieved using the 50 cc ventricle, driven by the Companion C2 Driver. Even under pulmonary hypertension, cardiac outputs greater than 4 L/min could be obtained with the 70 cc pump chamber in the late Fontan scenario. In the clinically relevant Fontan scenarios, implementation of the single chambered TAH performed successfully from a hemodynamic point of view. The replacement of the failing univentricular heart by a single chamber of the SynCardia TAH may provide an alternative to a complex biventricular repair procedure or ventricular support in Fontan patients.
The Angiopoietin-like protein 4: a promising biomarker to distinguish brucella spondylitis from tuberculous spondylitis
Authors: Lan Siqin , He Yuanlin , Tiheiran Maijudan , Liu Wenya , Guo Hui 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Objective
The Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL-4) has been proved to be a protein associated with multiple inflammatory responses. Nevertheless, whether it contributes to distinguishing brucella spondylitis (BS) from tuberculous spondylitis (TS) remains an open question. Our study aim is to explore the capability of the ANGPTL-4 to differentiating BS from TS.

Materials and method
In our study, 53 patients were screened out according to the criteria precisely in Xinjiang Medical University Affiliated of the First Hospital from 1 January, 2016, to 31 December, 2018. Their clinical data were retrospectively reviewed. All of them underwent pathological biopsy and magnetic resonance imaging examination. All the frozen tissue sections were stained for testing ANGPTL-4.

Result
Among the 53 patients, BS had 26 patients, and TS had 27 patients. There was no significant difference between the baseline (P = 0.682) between the two groups. The positive rate of ANGPTL-4 in TS patients (24/27, 88.89%) was higher than that in BS patients (17/26, 65.83%) (P < 0.05). The incidence of microangiopathy and fibrous connective tissue hyperplasia in patients with BS was distinctly higher than those in the TS (P = 0.001, P = 0.008, respectively). Patients of TS frequently presented more granuloma, caseous necrosis, epithelial-like reaction, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) than those of BS.

Conclusion
Our study provided novel insights into distinguishing BS from TS using the ANGPTL-4 combining with histopathology, which may become new supporting evidence.

Key Points• Brucella spondylitis and tuberculous spondylitis are a significant public health concern and even have prolonged damage, contributing to severe health and economic outcomes in Xinjiang of China.• The granuloma, caseous necrosis, epithelioid reaction, microangiosis, and fibrous connective tissue of pathological tissue might play a critical significance for distinguishing brucella spondylitis from tuberculous spondylitis patients.• ANGPLT-4 may become new supporting evidence identify brucella spondylitis and tuberculous spondylitis which is implicated in inflammation angiogenesis-related disorders.
The effects of COVID-19 pandemic countermeasures on patients receiving botulinum toxin therapy and on their caregivers: a study from an Italian cohort
Authors: Tarantino Domiziano , Gnasso Rossana , Migliore Federico , Iommazzo Irene , Sirico Felice , Corrado Bruno 
Published: May 2021

AbstractCOVID-19 outbreak had a huge worldwide impact, and several countermeasures to contain its spread have been adopted, such as the interruption of nonurgent outpatient clinics. We wanted to describe the effects of the national lockdown on the well-being of a cohort of Italian patients with cerebral palsy (CP) receiving botulinum toxin (BT) therapy and of their caregivers. Twenty-five patients receiving BT therapy were surveyed using the structuralized questionnaire by Dressler and Adib Saberi, while the caregivers were assessed using the Caregiver Burden Scale. The lockdown delayed BT therapy by 9 ± 2.8 months. Around 44% of the selected patients noticed increased muscle cramps, 24% increased muscle pain, and 32% both of them. Due to the lockdown, the patient’s quality of life was reduced by 68.4 ± 21.1%. After the lockdown, 100% of patients perceived BT therapy as more important than before. Around 76% of the patients perceived the lockdown as inadequate and felt that their rights were not respected. The overall score of the Caregiver Burden Scale, as regarded before the lockdown, was 29.12 ± 11.63, while the overall score as regarded after the lockdown was 37.44 ± 14.85. The overall score increased, from before the lockdown to after the lockdown, for 92% of caregivers. The BT outpatient clinic’s interruption was seen to significantly worsen the psychophysical condition of subjects with CP and the care burden of their caregivers, exposing them to greater stress than before. Therefore, any kind of BT treatment suspension or delay should be avoided.
Assessing the consequences of quarantines during a pandemic
Authors: Forslid Rikard , Herzing Mathias 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis paper analyzes the epidemiological and economic effects of quarantines. We use a basic epidemiological model, a SEIR-model, that is calibrated to roughly resemble the COVID-19 pandemic, and we assume that individuals that become infected or are isolated on average lose a share of their productivity. An early quarantine postpones but does not alter the course of the pandemic at a cost that increases in the duration and the extent of the quarantine. For quarantines at later stages of the pandemic there is a trade-off between lowering the peak level of infectious people on the one hand and minimizing fatalities and economic losses on the other hand. A longer quarantine dampens the peak level of infectious people and also reduces the total number of infected persons but increases economic losses. Both the peak level of infectious individuals and the total share of the population that will have been infected are U-shaped in relation to the share of the population in quarantine, while economic costs increase in this share. In particular, a quarantine covering a moderate share of the population leads to a lower peak, fewer deaths and lower economic costs, but it implies that the peak of the pandemic occurs earlier.
Different spatial distribution of inflammatory cells in the tumor microenvironment of ABC and GBC subgroups of diffuse large B cell lymphoma
Authors: Guidolin Diego , Tamma Roberto , Annese Tiziana , Tortorella Cinzia , Ingravallo Giuseppe , Gaudio Francesco , Perrone Tommasina , Musto Pellegrino , Specchia Giorgina , Ribatti Domenico 
Published: May 2021

AbstractDiffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) presents a high clinical and biological heterogeneity, and the tumor microenvironment chracteristics are important in its progression. The aim of this study was to evaluate tumor T, B cells, macrophages and mast cells distribution in GBC and ABC DLBCL subgroups through a set of morphometric parameters allowing to provide a quantitative evaluation of the morphological features of the spatial patterns generated by these inflammatory cells. Histological ABC and GCB samples were immunostained for CD4, CD8, CD68, CD 163, and tryptase in order to determine both percentage and position of positive cells in the tissue characterizing their spatial distribution. The results evidenced that cell patterns generated by CD4-, CD8-, CD68-, CD163- and tryptase-positive cell profiles exhibited a significantly higher uniformity index in ABC than in GCB subgroup. The positive-cell distributions appeared clustered in tissues from GCB, while in tissues from ABC such a feature was lower or absent. The combinations of spatial statistics-derived parameters can lead to better predictions of tumor cell infiltration than any classical morphometric method providing a more accurate description of the functional status of the tumor, useful for patient prognosis.