bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Methods for Dispersal of Precipitated Calcium Carbonate for Stratospheric Aerosol Injection
Authors: Neukermans Armand , Cooper Gary , Foster Jack , Galbraith Lee , Jain Sudhanshu 
Published: July 2021

AbstractTwo methods for the laboratory-scale formation of aerosols of nanosized particles of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), for potential use in Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI), a Solar Radiation Management (SRM) technique, are described. The first uses the coarse fluidization of bulk PCC in a simple vessel, followed by dispersal using a commercially available two-fluid nozzle. The manufacturer’s measured particle mass distribution for the bulk material, and sprayed aerosol particle mass distributions are compared, indicating that the sprayed particles are well separated in spite of a notoriously problematic agglomeration tendency. The method is suitable for scale-up. A second dispersal method, useful for small laboratory experiments, using liquid carbon dioxide as a dispersant as well as spray propellant gave similar results. The mass mode diameters measured here (0.89 to 1.4 μm) differ from that stated by the manufacturer (0.7 μm), but the distributions are consistent in showing complete separation of the particles.
Long-Term Stability of Short-Term Intensive Language–Action Therapy in Chronic Aphasia: A 1–2 year Follow-Up Study
Authors: Doppelbauer Lea , Mohr Bettina , Dreyer Felix R. , Stahl Benjamin , Büscher Verena , Pulvermüller Friedemann 
Published: July 2021

Background. Intensive aphasia therapy can improve language functions in chronic aphasia over a short therapy interval of 2–4 weeks. For one intensive method, intensive language–action therapy, beneficial effects are well documented by a range of randomized controlled trials. However, it is unclear to date whether therapy-related improvements are maintained over years. Objective. The current study aimed at investigating long-term stability of ILAT treatment effects over circa 1–2 years (8–30 months). Methods. 38 patients with chronic aphasia participated in ILAT and were re-assessed at a follow-up assessment 8–30 months after treatment, which had been delivered 6–12.5 hours per week for 2–4 weeks. Results. A standardized clinical aphasia battery, the Aachen Aphasia Test, revealed significant improvements with ILAT that were maintained for up to 2.5 years. Improvements were relatively better preserved in comparatively young patients (<60 years). Measures of communicative efficacy confirmed improvements during intensive therapy but showed inconsistent long-term stability effects. Conclusions. The present data indicate that gains resulting from intensive speech–language therapy with ILAT are maintained up to 2.5 years after the end of treatment. We discuss this novel finding in light of a possible move from sparse to intensive therapy regimes in clinical practice.
Does the target market affect bank performance? Evidence from the geographic diversification of city commercial banks in China
Authors: Li Xiaonan , Song Chang 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAfter the opening up of the banking sector to domestic and foreign capitals which is approved by the Chinese government, the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) has permitted city commercial banks to diversify geographically. Since this deregulation in 2006, city commercial banks began to geographically diversify to occupy the market and acquire more financial resources. To examine the causal relationship between geographical diversification and bank performance, we construct an exogenous geographical diversification instrument using the gravity-deregulation model and a policy shock. We find that bank geographical diversification negatively affects bank performance. Moreover, we conduct some mechanism tests in the Chinese context. We find that the target market with several large- and medium-sized banks and a high level of local protectionism in the target market decreases the performance of city commercial banks. Finally, cross-sectional analyses show that the impact of geographical diversification on banks’ performance is more notable among city commercial banks that are younger, and have a lower capital adequacy ratio and a higher non-performing loan ratio.
Development of mass and heat transfer coupled model of hollow fiber membrane for salt recovery from brine via osmotic membrane distillation
Authors: Ahmad Sher , Marson Gabriela Vollet , Rehman Waheed Ur , Younas Mohammad , Farrukh Sarah , Rezakazemi Mashallah 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
In this research work, a coupled heat and mass transfer model was developed for salt recovery from concentrated brine water through an osmotic membrane distillation (OMD) process in a hollow fiber membrane contactor (HFMC).The model was built based on the resistance-in-series concept for water transport across the hydrophobic membrane. The model was adopted to incorporate the effects of polarization layers such as temperature and concentration polarization, as well as viscosity changes during concentration.

Results
The modeling equations were numerically simulated in MATLAB® and were successfully validated with experimental data from literature with a deviation within the range of 1–5%. The model was then applied to study the effects of key process parameters like feed concentrations, osmotic solution concentration, feed, and osmotic solution flow rates and feed temperature on the overall heat and mass transfer coefficient as well as on water transport flux to improve the process efficiency. The mass balance modeling was applied to calculate the membrane area based on the simulated mass transfer coefficient. Finally, a scale-up for the MD process for salt recovery on an industrial scale was proposed.

Conclusions
This study highlights the effect of key parameters for salt recovery from wastewater using the membrane distillation process. Further, the applicability of the OMD process for salt recovery on large scale was investigated. Sensitivity analysis was performed to identify the key parameters. From the results of this study, it is concluded that the OMD process can be promising in salt recovery from wastewater.
The CCCH zinc finger family of soybean (Glycine max L.): genome-wide identification, expression, domestication, GWAS and haplotype analysis
Authors: Hu Xin , Zuo Jianfang 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
The CCCH zinc finger (zf_CCCH) is a unique subfamily featured one or more zinc finger motif(s) comprising of three Cys and one His residues. The zf_CCCH family have been reported involving in various processes of plant development and adaptation.

Results
In this study, the zf_CCCH genes were identified via a genome-wide search and were systematically analyzed. 116 Gmzf_CCCHs were obtained and classified into seventeen subfamilies. Gene duplication and expansion analysis showed that tandem and segmental duplications contributed to the expansion of the Gmzf_CCCH gene family, and that segmental duplication play the main role. The expression patterns of Gmzf_CCCH genes were tissue-specific. Eleven domesticated genes were detected involved in the regulation of seed oil and protein synthesis as well as growth and development of soybean through GWAS and haplotype analysis for Gmzf_CCCH genes among the 164 of 302 soybeans resequencing data. Among which, 8 genes play an important role in the synthesis of seed oil or fatty acid, and the frequency of their elite haplotypes changes significantly among wild, landrace and improved cultivars, indicating that they have been strongly selected in the process of soybean domestication.

Conclusions
This study provides a scientific foundation for the comprehensive understanding, future cloning and functional studies of Gmzf_CCCH genes in soybean, meanwhile, it was also helpful for the improvement of soybean with high oil content.
Mendelian randomization analysis identified genes pleiotropically associated with central corneal thickness
Authors: Yang Zhikun , Yang Jingyun , Liu Di , Yu Weihong 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Objective
To prioritize genes that were pleiotropically or potentially causally associated with central corneal thickness (CCT).

Methods
We applied the summary data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) method integrating summarized data of genome-wide association study (GWAS) on CCT and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data to identify genes that were pleiotropically associated with CCT. We performed separate SMR analysis using CAGE eQTL data and GTEx eQTL data. SMR analyses were done for participants of European and East Asian ancestries, separately.

Results
We identified multiple genes showing pleiotropic association with CCT in the participants of European ancestry. CLIC3 (ILMN_1796423; PSMR = 4.15 × 10− 12), PTGDS (ILMN_1664464; PSMR = 6.88 × 10− 9) and C9orf142 (ILMN_1761138; PSMR = 8.09 × 10− 9) were the top three genes using the CAGE eQTL data, and RP11-458F8.4 (ENSG00000273142.1; PSMR = 5.89 × 10− 9), LCNL1 (ENSG00000214402.6; PSMR = 5.67 × 10− 8), and PTGDS (ENSG00000107317.7; PSMR = 1.92 × 10− 7) were the top three genes using the GTEx eQTL data. No genes showed significantly pleiotropic association with CCT in the participants of East Asian ancestry after correction for multiple testing.

Conclusion
We identified several genes pleiotropically associated with CCT, some of which represented novel genes influencing CCT. Our findings provided important leads to a better understanding of the genetic factors influencing CCT, and revealed potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma and keratoconus.
Comparing regression modeling strategies for predicting hometime
Authors: Holodinsky Jessalyn K. , Yu Amy Y. X. , Kapral Moira K. , Austin Peter C. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundHometime, the total number of days a person is living in the community (not in a healthcare institution) in a defined period of time after a hospitalization, is a patient-centred outcome metric increasingly used in healthcare research. Hometime exhibits several properties which make its statistical analysis difficult: it has a highly non-normal distribution, excess zeros, and is bounded by both a lower and upper limit. The optimal methodology for the analysis of hometime is currently unknown.MethodsUsing administrative data we identified adult patients diagnosed with stroke between April 1, 2010 and December 31, 2017 in Ontario, Canada. 90-day hometime and clinically relevant covariates were determined through administrative data linkage. Fifteen different statistical and machine learning models were fit to the data using a derivation sample. The models’ predictive accuracy and bias were assessed using an independent validation sample.ResultsSeventy-five thousand four hundred seventy-five patients were identified (divided into a derivation set of 49,402 and a test set of 26,073). In general, the machine learning models had lower root mean square error and mean absolute error than the statistical models. However, some statistical models resulted in lower (or equal) bias than the machine learning models. Most of the machine learning models constrained predicted values between the minimum and maximum observable hometime values but this was not the case for the statistical models. The machine learning models also allowed for the display of complex non-linear interactions between covariates and hometime. No model captured the non-normal bucket shaped hometime distribution.ConclusionsOverall, no model clearly outperformed the others. However, it was evident that machine learning methods performed better than traditional statistical methods. Among the machine learning methods, generalized boosting machines using the Poisson distribution as well as random forests regression were the best performing. No model was able to capture the bucket shaped hometime distribution and future research on factors which are associated with extreme values of hometime that are not available in administrative data is warranted.
Cannulation technique and complications in arteriovenous fistulas: a Swedish Renal Registry-based cohort study
Authors: Staaf Karin , Fernström Anders , Uhlin Fredrik 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
The four cannulation techniques, rope ladder (RL), area puncture (AP), buttonhole with blunt needles (BHb), and buttonhole with sharp needles (BHs), affects the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in different ways. The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between the different cannulation techniques and the occurrence of AVF complications.

Methods
The study was performed as a national registry-based cohort study using data from the Swedish Renal Registry (SRR). Data were collected from January 2014 to October 2019. Seventy of Sweden’s dialysis units participate in the registry. We analyzed a total of 1328 AVFs in this study. The risk of complications was compared between the four different cannulation techniques. The risk of AVF complications was measured by the incidence and incidence rate ratio (IRR). We compared the IRRs of complications between different cannulation techniques.

Results
BHs is the most common cannulation technique in Sweden. It has been used in 55% of the AVFs at some point during their functional patency. BHb (29%), RL (13%), and AP (3%) has been used less. BHb had the lowest risk of complications compared to the other techniques, and a significantly lower risk of stenosis, infiltration, cannulation difficulties, compared to RL and BHs. Cannulation difficulties were significantly more common using AP compared to BHs, and BHb. Infections were not significantly increased using the buttonhole technique.

Conclusions
BHb had the lowest risk of complications. Infections were not significantly increased using the buttonhole technique. Dialysis units with a low infection rate may continue to use the buttonhole technique, as the risk of complications is lower.
Serum uric acid is associated with coronary artery calcification in early chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Han Miyeun , Kim Hyunsuk , Kim Hyo Jin , Kang Eunjeong , Kim Yong-Soo , Choi Kyu Hun , Kim Soo Wan , Ahn Curie , Oh Kook-Hwan 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundAlthough uric acid (UA) is regarded as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, whether UA is an independent risk factor contributing to coronary artery calcification in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is not well known. We evaluated whether UA level is associated with coronary artery calcium (CAC) score in a predialysis CKD cohort.MethodsA total of 1,350 subjects who underwent coronary computed tomography as part of the KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcome in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease were analysed. We conducted a logistic regression analysis to evaluate the association between UA and the presence of CAC.ResultsCAC was detected in 705 (52.2 %) patients, and the level of UA was significantly higher in CAC > 0 patients. UA showed a positive relationship with CAC > 0 in age- and sex-adjusted logistic regression analysis (Odds ratio (OR) 1.11, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.19,P = 0.003). However, UA showed no association with CAC > 0 in multivariate analysis. Further analysis showed that UA showed a positive association with CAC > 0 only in estimated glomerual filtration rate (eGFR) > 60 ml/min/1.73 m2(OR 1.23, 95 % CI 1.02–1.49,P = 0.036) but not in eGFR 30–59 ml/min/1.73 m2(OR 0.92, 95 % CI 0.78–1.08,P = 0.309) or < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2(OR 0.92, 95 % CI 0.79–1.08,P = 0.426).ConclusionsUA level was significantly associated with CAC in early CKD, but not in advanced CKD.
A method to define the relevant ego-centred spatial scale for the assessment of neighbourhood effects: the example of cardiovascular risk factors
Authors: Breckenkamp Jürgen , Razum Oliver , Spallek Jacob , Berger Klaus , Chaix Basile , Sauzet Odile 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Introduction
The neighbourhood in which one lives affects health through complex pathways not yet fully understood. A way to move forward in assessing these pathways direction is to explore the spatial structure of health phenomena to generate hypotheses and examine whether the neighbourhood characteristics are able to explain this spatial structure. We compare the spatial structure of two cardiovascular disease risk factors in three European urban areas, thus assessing if a non-measured neighbourhood effect or spatial processes is present by either modelling the correlation structure at individual level or by estimating the intra-class correlation within administrative units.

Methods
Data from three independent studies (RECORD, DHS and BaBi), covering each a European urban area, are used. The characteristics of the spatial correlation structure of cardiovascular risk factors (BMI and systolic blood pressure) adjusted for age, sex, educational attainment and income are estimated by fitting an exponential model to the semi-variogram based on the geo-coordinates of places of residence. For comparison purposes, a random effect model is also fitted to estimate the intra-class correlation within administrative units. We then discuss the benefits of modelling the correlation structure to evaluate the presence of unmeasured spatial effects on health.

Results
BMI and blood pressure are consistently found to be spatially structured across the studies, the spatial correlation structures being stronger for BMI. Eight to 22% of the variability in BMI were spatially structured with radii ranging from 100 to 240 m (range). Only a small part of the correlation of residuals was explained by adjusting for the correlation within administrative units (from 0 to 4 percentage points).

Discussion
The individual spatial correlation approach provides much stronger evidence of spatial effects than the multilevel approach even for small administrative units. Spatial correlation structure offers new possibilities to assess the relevant spatial scale for health. Stronger correlation structure seen for BMI may be due to neighbourhood socioeconomic conditions and processes like social norms at work in the immediate neighbourhood.
Measurement and determinants of financial protection in health in Afghanistan
Authors: Dastan Ilker , Abbasi Asiyeh , Arfa Chokri , Hashimi Mir Najmuddin , Alawi Said Mohammad Karim 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Out of pocket (OOP) payments for health are significant health financing challenges in Afghanistan as it is a source of incurrence of catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) and impoverishment. Measuring and understanding the drivers and impacts of this financial health hardship is an economic and public health priority, particularly in the time of COVID-19. This is the first study that measures the financial hardship and determines associated factors in Afghanistan.

Methods
Afghanistan Living Conditions Survey data for 2016–2017 was used for this study. We calculated incidence and intensity of catastrophic health expenditure by using different thresholds ranging from 5 to 40% of total and nonfood consumption and subsequent impoverishment due to OOPs. Logistic regression was used to assess the degree to which Afghan households are protected from the catastrophic household expenditure.

Results
Results revealed that 32% of the population in Afghanistan incurred catastrophic health expenditure (as 10% of total consumption) and when healthcare payments are netted out of household consumption, the Afghan population live in extreme poverty ($1.9 in 2011 PPP), increased from 29 to 36%. Based on our findings from logistic regression in Afghanistan, having an educated head or being employed are protective factors from financial hardship while having a female head, an elderly member, a disabled, or a sick member are the risk factors of facing catastrophic health expenditure. Moreover, the people living in rural/nomadic areas or facing an economic shock are more likely to face catastrophic health expenditure and hence to be impoverished due to direct OOPs on health.

Conclusions
The high rate of poverty and catastrophic health expenditure in Afghanistan emphasizes the need to strengthen the health financing system. Although Afghanistan has made great efforts to support households against health expenditure burden during the pandemic, households are at higher risk of poverty and financial hardship due to OOPs. Therefore, there is need for more financial and supportive response policies by providing a better and easier access to primary health services, extending to all entitlement to health services particularly in the public sector, eliminating user fees for COVID-19 health services and suspending fees for other essential health services, expanding coverage of income support, and strengthening the overall health financing system.
Chandipura virus dysregulates the expression of hsa-miR-21-5p to activate NF-κB in human microglial cells
Authors: Pandey Neha , Rastogi Meghana , Singh Sunit K. 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Chandipura virus (CHPV) is a negative single-stranded RNA virus of the Rhabdoviridae family. CHPV infection has been reported in Central and Western India. CHPV causes acute encephalitis with a case fatality rate of 70 % and mostly affects children below 15 years of age. CHPV infection in brain leads to neuronal apoptosis and activation of the microglial cells. The microRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous non-coding RNA that regulate the gene expression. Viral infections perturb the expression pattern of cellular miRNAs, which may in turn affect the expression pattern of downstream genes. This study aims to investigate hsa-miR-21-5p mediated regulation of PTEN, AKT, NF-ĸBp65, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β, in human microglial cells during CHPV infection.

Methods
To understand the role of hsa-miR-21-5p in CHPV infection, the human microglial cells were infected with CHPV (MOI-0.1). Real-time PCR, western blotting, Luciferase assay, over-expression and knockdown techniques were used to understand the role of hsa-miR-21-5p in the regulation of PTEN, AKT and, NF-ĸBp65, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β in this study.

Results
The hsa-miR-21-5p was found to be upregulated during CHPV infection in human microglial cells. This led to the downregulation of PTEN which promoted the phosphorylation of AKT and NF-ĸBp65. Over-expression of hsa-miR-21-5p led to the decreased expression of PTEN and promoted further phosphorylation of AKT and NF-ĸBp65 in human microglial cells. However, the inhibition of hsa-miR-21-5p using hsa-miR-21-5p inhibitor restored the expression.

Conclusions
This study supports the role of hsa-miR-21-5p in the regulation of pro-inflammatory genes in CHPV infected human microglial cells.