bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plasma proteoglycan prolargin in diagnosis and differentiation of pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Arvidsson Mattias , Ahmed Abdulla , Bouzina Habib , Rådegran Göran 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAimsRight ventricular dysfunction may arise because of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Development of new diagnostic methods able to identify PAH and allow for earlier treatment initiation, before the development of vascular remodelling and manifest right heart failure (HF), could potentially improve prognosis. Proteoglycans and inflammatory proteins are involved in vascular remodelling. We aimed to investigate their potential as biomarkers to differentiate PAH in a dyspnoeic population.Methods and resultsPlasma from 152 patients with PAH (n = 48), chronic thrombo‐embolic pulmonary hypertension (n = 20), pulmonary hypertension due to HF with reduced (n = 36) or preserved (n = 33) ejection fraction, and HF without pulmonary hypertension (n = 15) and 20 healthy controls were analysed with proximity extension assays. Haemodynamics were assessed in the patients with right heart catheterization. Plasma prolargin levels in PAH were lower compared with all the other studied disease groups (P < 0.001) but higher than the controls' levels (P = 0.003). Receiver operating characteristic curve of prolargin as a PAH‐differentiating marker in a pooled population, encompassing all the other studied disease groups, had a sensitivity of 74% and a specificity of 83.3% (area under the curve = 0.84, P < 0.001). Prolargin correlated with the mean right atrial pressure (rs = 0.65, P < 0.001), N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (rs = 0.64, P < 0.001), cardiac index (rs = −0.31, P = 0.029), stroke volume index (rs = −0.41, P = 0.004), right ventricular stroke work index (rs = −0.31, P = 0.032), six‐minute walking distance (rs = −0.41, P = 0.005), and mixed venous blood oxygen saturation (rs = −0.42, P = 0.003).ConclusionsPlasma prolargin levels differentiate PAH patients from controls and the other investigated dyspnoea groups including HF. Its potential in PAH differentiation may be enhanced by inclusion in a multi‐marker panel. Larger studies are needed to evaluate its discriminative ability of PAH in relation to other dyspnoea aetiologies and its potential role in PAH risk stratification and pathobiology.
Evaluating soil water routing approaches in watershed‐scale, ecohydrologic modelling
Authors: Pignotti Garett , Chaubey Indrajeet , Cherkauer Keith , Williams Mark , Crawford Melba 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSoil water dynamics are central in linking and regulating natural cycles in ecohydrology, however, mathematical representation of soil water processes in models is challenging given the complexity of these interactions. To assess the impacts of soil water simulation approaches on various model outputs, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool was modified to accommodate an alternative soil water percolation method and tested at two geographically and climatically distinct, instrumented watersheds in the United States. Soil water was evaluated at the site scale via measured observations, and hydrologic and biophysical outputs were analysed at the watershed scale. Results demonstrated an improved Kling–Gupta Efficiency of up to 0.3 and a reduction in percent bias from 5 to 25% at the site scale, when soil water percolation was changed from a threshold, bucket‐based approach to an alternative approach based on variable hydraulic conductivity. The primary difference between the approaches was attributed to the ability to simulate soil water content above field capacity for successive days; however, regardless of the approach, a lack of site‐specific characterization of soil properties by the soils database at the site scale was found to severely limit the analysis. Differences in approach led to a regime shift in percolation from a few, high magnitude events to frequent, low magnitude events. At the watershed scale, the variable hydraulic conductivity‐based approach reduced average annual percolation by 20–50 mm, directly impacting the water balance and subsequently biophysical predictions. For instance, annual denitrification increased by 14–24 kg/ha for the new approach. Overall, the study demonstrates the need for continued efforts to enhance soil water model representation for improving biophysical process simulations.
Stock exchange volatility forecasting under market stress with MIDAS regression
Authors: Körs Murat , Karan Mehmet Baha 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis paper presents two different approaches of volatility forecasting. One is based on option‐implied volatility (IV), the other involves conducting time series methods using historical volatility. With that purpose, we study eight developed stock markets, offering implied volatility indexes for the 2008 financial crisis. We evaluated the 1 month out‐of‐sample volatility forecast performance of two statistical‐based models, Mixed Data Sampling (MIDAS) and GARCH, and compared the results with option‐implied volatility indexes. Our results suggest that MIDAS produce superior forecast performance compared to GARCH model and IV method. While options are not available for all assets, we believe that MIDAS model can be a sophisticated tool for researchers and analysts to forecast future volatility with its ability to process high‐frequency data.
Synthesis and characterization of polystyrene/poly(ethyl acrylate) mushroom‐like Janus particles
Authors: Alavi Seyyedeh Fatemeh , Abasian Payam , Eslami Hormoz 
Published: January 2021

AbstractFavorable though isotropic polymeric structures are in many applications, they are not optimized in some others. Janus particles, having two sides with completely different properties, are optimizing the use for these applications, from industrial emulsifiers to biomedicine. In this work, mushroom‐like Janus particles made of PS as the seed and PEA as the semispherical centers through (seeded) dispersion polymerization were synthesized. Afterward, the effects of the initiator, monomer, and stabilizer amount as well as polymerization temperature were studied. It is shown that, in the PS synthesis stage, an increase in polymerization temperature, initiator amount, and monomer amount, as well as a decrease in stabilizer amount, lead to an increase in particles' size and in PDI percentage. In addition, in the next stage, the synthesis of mushroom‐like particles with the PEA sites, an increase in initiator amount, monomer amount, and polymerization temperature, as well as a decrease in stabilizer amount lead to bigger PEA centers and in excessive amount. It is also shown that above the breakthrough, three‐part particles increase in number with the changes mentioned. It is concluded that with the determined optimized conditions in this work mushroom‐like Janus particles of PS/PEA can be synthesized.
Diagnostic analysis of a regional heavy snowfall event over the Tibetan Plateau using NCEP reanalysis data and WRF
Authors: Liu Lian , Ma Yaoming , Yao Nan , Ma Weiqiang 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSnowstorms frequently occur in spring over the heterogeneous underlying surface of the Tibetan Plateau, causing both economic and societal damage. What the intensity of factors triggering snowstorms remains poorly understood. This study quantitatively diagnoses water vapor, the thermodynamic and dynamic conditions of a large-scale heavy snowfall event over the Tibetan Plateau using reanalysis data. Here we show, a cold vortex, the Southern Branch Trough and a meridional shear line are favorable synoptic systems. The snowfall is characterized by low-layer (− 8.3 × 10−7 g s−1 hPa−1 cm−2) and whole-layer (− 4.5 × 10−4 g s−1 cm−2) moisture convergence, low-level atmospheric convergence and high-level divergence (± 3 × 10−4 s−1), low-level positive vorticity (4.8 × 10−4 s−1) and strong vertical velocity (− 4 Pa s−1). Although the convectively-stable stratification acted to suppress snowfall, the abundant water vapor and strong orographic uplift of Himalayas and the downhill wind speed convergence overcome this to trigger the heavy snowfall event witnessed in March 2017. These diagnostic results are well consistent with those from WRF simulation. Our study acknowledges the importance of WRF in diagnostic analysis, deepens the understanding of evolution mechanisms and provides theoretical references for accurate forecasting of such events over the Tibetan Plateau. It would aid the development of effective strategies for sustainable livestock, and the mitigation and prevention of snow disasters in this region.
Predictive factors for dental inflammation with exacerbation during cancer therapy with FDG-PET/CT imaging
Authors: Kim Mai , Dam Trang Thuy , Ogawa Masaru , Shimizu Takahiro , Yamaguchi Takahiro , Suzuki Keisuke , Asami Takuya , Kurihara Jun , Yokoo Satoshi 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Purpose
Oral adverse events, such as dental inflammation with exacerbation, are stressful and lead to poor nutrition in patients undergoing cancer therapy. Thus, the prediction of risk factors for dental inflammation with exacerbation is important before cancer therapy is initiated. We hypothesized that, during cancer therapy (DIECT), fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) imaging could be useful to predict dental inflammation with exacerbation.

Methods
We enrolled 124 patients who underwent FDG-PET/CT for diagnostic staging before cancer treatment. We then assessed DIECT outcomes after basic perioperative oral treatment. Moreover, we evaluated clinical parameters, therapeutic strategies, periodontal examination (probing depth (PD) and bleeding on probing (BOP)), dental imaging, and FDG-PET/CT imaging results of patients with and without DIECT. Furthermore, PET/CT images were assessed as per the FDG accumulation of the dental lesion (PAD) grading system.

Results
Univariate analysis demonstrated significant differences in age, periodontal examination (PD and BOP), and PAD grade between patients with and without DIECT. Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression analysis identified independent predictive factors for a positive periodontal examination (PD) (odds ratio (OR) 5.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8–19.7; P = 0.004) and PAD grade (OR 11.6, 95% CI 3.2–41.2; P = 0.0002). In patients with cancer, PAD grade using FDG-PET/CT imaging was an independent and informative risk factor for DIECT.

Conclusion
Our results suggested that, for patients with DIECT, periodontal examination and PAD grade were independent predictive factors. Hence, regardless of the presence or absence of any lesion on dental imaging, PAD grade might be an additional tool, in addition to periodontal examination that potentially improves oral care management.
Artificially generated turbulence: a review of phycological nanocosm, microcosm, and mesocosm experiments
Authors: Arnott Russell N. , Cherif Mehdi , Bryant Lee D. , Wain Danielle J. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBuilding on a summary of how turbulence influences biological systems, we reviewed key phytoplankton-turbulence laboratory experiments (after Peters and Redondo in Scientia Marina: Lectures on plankton and turbulence, International Centre for Coastal Resources, Barcelona, 1997) and Peters and Marrasé (Marine Ecology Progress Series 205:291–306, 2000) to provide a current overview of artificial turbulence generation methods and quantification techniques. This review found that most phytoplankton studies using artificial turbulence feature some form of quantification of turbulence; it is recommended to use turbulent dissipation rates (ε) for consistency with physical oceanographic and limnological observations. Grid-generated turbulence is the dominant method used to generate artificial turbulence with most experiments providing quantified ε values. Couette cylinders are also commonly used due to the ease of quantification, albeit as shear rates not ε. Dinoflagellates were the primary phytoplanktonic group studied due to their propensity for forming harmful algal blooms (HAB) as well as their apparent sensitivity to turbulence. This study found that a majority of experimental setups are made from acrylate plastics that could emit toxins as these materials degrade under UV light. Furthermore, most cosm systems studied were not sufficiently large to accommodate the full range of turbulent length scales, omitting larger vertical overturns. Recognising that phytoplankton-turbulence interactions are extremely complex, the continued promotion of more interdisciplinary studies is recommended.
Social Connection and Self-perceived Depression Among Adolescents: A Path Analytic Model for Abu Dhabi
Authors: Badri Masood , Khaili Mugheer Al , Bahar Muna Al , Yang Guang , Reynhout Georgina , Rashdi Asma Al 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWe examined how family and friendship connections of adolescents (15–19 years old) interrelate and how these interactions affect their self-perceived depression and stress. The data were collected through the Abu Dhabi Quality of Life Survey in 2018, which was completed by more than 51,000 respondents. Nine hundred and fifty-eight out of 3356 adolescents in the survey self-identified themselves as depressed. We developed a structural equation path model to explicate the relationships among the variables hypothesized to affect adolescents’ self-reported depression. The results produced an excellent fit of statistics of the model to the data. In general, social connections and relationships with family and friends directly affected adolescents’ self-perceived depressive feelings. More specifically, variables such as “often feeling isolated from people,” “the amount of quality time spent with family,” “the frequency of meeting with friends, relatives or colleagues,” and “involvement in informal activities with friends” had the greatest total effects on adolescents’ self-perceived depression. “The amount of quality time spent with family” also exerted indirect influence on feelings of isolation. Involvement in sports groups, involvement in religious and spiritual groups, and generalized trust did not exhibit any direct influence but had an indirect impact on self-perceived depression. The findings could contribute to the current understanding of theories of depression and yield implications for social policy, social service, and social work interventions for school-aged adolescents in Abu Dhabi.
How to Detect Altruists: Experiments Using a Zero-Acquaintance Video Presentation Paradigm
Authors: Oda Ryo , Tainaka Tomomi , Morishima Kosuke , Kanematsu Nobuho , Yamagata-Nakashima Noriko , Hiraishi Kai 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn this study, we investigated the cognitive processes and nonverbal cues used to detect altruism in three experiments based on a zero-acquaintance video presentation paradigm. Cognitive mechanisms of altruism detection are thought to have evolved in humans to prevent subtle cheating. Several studies have demonstrated that people can correctly estimate levels of altruism in others. In this study, we asked participants to distinguish altruists from non-altruists in video clips using the Faith game. Participants decided whether they could trust allocation of money to the targets who were videotaped while talking to the experimenter. In our first experiment, we asked the participants to play the Faith game under cognitive load. The accuracy of altruism detection was not reduced when participants simultaneously performed a cognitive task, suggesting that altruist detection is rapid and effortless. In the second experiment, we investigated the effects of affective status on the accuracy of altruism detection. Compared with participants in a positive mood, those in a negative mood were more hesitant to trust videotaped targets. However, the accuracy with which altruism levels were detected did not change when we manipulated participants’ moods. In the third experiment, we investigated the facial cues by which participants detected altruists. Participants could not detect altruists when the upper half of the target’s face was hidden, suggesting that judgment cues exist around the eyes. We also conducted a meta-analysis on the effect size in each experimental condition to verify the robustness of altruism detection ability.
Can Religiosity and Social Support Explain Effects of Trait Emotional Intelligence on Health-Related Quality of Life: A Cross-Cultural Study
Authors: Ghafoor Hina , Nordbeck Peter , Ritter Oliver , Pauli Paul , Schulz Stefan M. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractReligion and social support along with trait emotional intelligence (EI) help individuals to reduce stress caused by difficult situations. Their implications may vary across cultures in reference to predicting health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A convenience sample of N = 200 chronic heart failure (CHF) patients was recruited at cardiology centers in Germany (n = 100) and Pakistan (n = 100). Results indicated that trait-EI predicted better mental component of HRQoL in Pakistani and German CHF patients. Friends as social support appeared relevant for German patients only. Qualitative data indicate an internal locus of control in German as compared to Pakistani patients. Strengthening the beneficial role of social support in Pakistani patients is one example of how the current findings may inspire culture-specific treatment to empower patients dealing with the detrimental effects of CHF.
Widerstand oder Terrorismus? Eine theoretische Grundlegung
Authors: Höntzsch Frauke 
Published: January 2021

ZusammenfassungTerrorismus ist ein nicht nur politisch, sondern auch politikwissenschaftlich umstrittener Begriff. Das liegt in dem Umstand begründet, dass mit der Kennzeichnung politischer Gewalt als Terrorismus eine Wertung verbunden ist: Terrorismus gilt als illegitime Gewalt – im Gegensatz zu Widerstand, der gleichfalls illegal ist, aber als legitim verstanden wird. Die gängigen wissenschaftlichen Terrorismusdefinitionen versuchen diese Wertung auszublenden und definieren Terrorismus als Taktik und damit als Mittel zum Zweck; der Analyse bzw. Auswahl empirischer Phänomene aber geht eine Wertung notwendig voraus. Der vorliegende Beitrag schlägt demgegenüber eine Konzeption von Terrorismus vor, die die Ziele und damit die Frage nach der Legitimation politischer Gewalt systematisch miteinbezieht. Die vorgeschlagene Konzeptualisierung nimmt das Selbstverständnis von Akteuren politischer Gewalt, die die von ihnen verübte Gewalt notwendig als legitim, mithin als Widerstand, begreifen müssen, zum Ausgangspunkt und misst die Berechtigung dieser Selbstzuschreibung anhand der klassischen Rechtfertigung gewaltsamen Widerstands. Der vorliegende Beitrag entwickelt auf dieser Grundlage einen mehrstufigen Maßstab zur Unterscheidung legitimer und illegitimer politischer Gewalt, der von den moralischen Überzeugungen der Akteure abstrahiert.
Forest Management Cooperatives and Their Development Under Uncertain Conditions: A Comprehensive Analysis Using an Actor-Centered Institutionalism Approach
Authors: Sonnhoff Matthias , Selter Andy , Kleinschmit Daniela , Schraml Ulrich 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe change in forest ownership structures, the resulting fragmentation of forest properties and restitution processes have led to the emergence of organizations in Europe that are able to deal with these challenges. Changes in the timber selling process due to decisions of the German Federal Competition Authority have led first to uncertain conditions for forest management cooperatives (FMCs) and their members in the federal state of Baden-Wuerttemberg. In the course of this change, some FMCs have questioned their status quo while others have evolved under uncertain conditions. This paper aims to provide an overview of factors determining the further development of forest management cooperatives under uncertain conditions following the categories of actor-centered institutionalism (ACI). To be able to conduct a comprehensive political analysis of the changes taking place in the timber selling process, the ACI approach is used in conjunction with path dependency as the theoretical framework for this paper. Methodologically, it is based on a qualitative analysis of field protocols from four regional conferences in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, involving a total of 140 participants in 2017. The results highlight that individual actors, the economic and social capabilities of FMCs, the existing constellations and interactions determine further developments under uncertainty. Legal certainty and in some cases the withdrawal of the state determine positively the dealing with uncertain situations. Foresters and their direction essentially determine the development. Furthermore, FMCs highlight that the cooperation with municipal foresters has a positive impact that will help deal with uncertainty in the future. A clear interest of cooperation and long-standing relationships also determine further developments under uncertain conditions.
Post-surgery anxiety and depression in prostate cancer patients: prevalence, longitudinal progression, and their correlations with survival profiles during a 3-year follow-up
Authors: Hu Su , Li Li , Wu Xiaoling , Liu Zhengqing , Fu Adan 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Anxiety and depression are more frequent in cancer patients than general population and may be correlated with cancer prognosis; however, their value in prostate cancer patients is largely unknown. We aimed to evaluate prevalence of anxiety and depression in prostate cancer survivors post the surgeries, and their correlations with patients’ disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).

Methods
A hundred and ninety-four patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy were enrolled. After discharged from hospital, patients were assessed for post-surgery anxiety and depression every 3 months using Zung Self-rating Anxiety/Depression Scale (SAS/SDS) for a total of 36 months. In addition, disease conditions, DFS, and OS were also documented.

Results
SAS score (P < 0.001), anxiety rate (P = 0.004), SDS score (P < 0.001), and depression rate (P < 0.001) gradually elevated from baseline to month 36 in prostate cancer patients. Anxiety at baseline (P = 0.009) and anxiety at 3 years (P = 0.017) were correlated with worse DFS, and anxiety at baseline (P = 0.009) was also correlated with shorter OS in prostate cancer patients. Furthermore, depression at baseline (P = 0.005) and depression at 2 years (P = 0.008) were associated with unfavorable DFS, and depression at baseline (P = 0.001), 1 year (P = 0.025), and 2 years (P = 0.008) were associated with worse OS in prostate cancer patients. Moreover, multivariate Cox’s proportional hazards regression analysis elucidated that depression at baseline (P = 0.027) was an independent predictive factor for shorter DFS in prostate cancer patients.

Conclusion
Anxiety and depression both gradually deteriorate, and they correlate with unfavorable survival profile in prostate cancer patients after radical prostatectomy.