bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Myocardial Dysfunction by Three-Dimensional Echocardiography Combined With Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Li Wei , Lv Xiao-zhou , Liu Jia , Zeng Jia-hui , Ye Min , Li Cui-ling , Fan Rui , Lin Hong , Huang Hui-ling , Yao Feng-juan 
Published: June 2021

Background: We aimed to explore the value of combining real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) and myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) in the left ventricle (LV) evaluating myocardial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.Patients and Methods: A total of 58 T2DM patients and 32 healthy individuals were selected for this study. T2DM patients were further divided into T2DM without microvascular complications (n = 29) and T2DM with microvascular complications (n = 29) subgroups. All participants underwent RT-3DE and MCE. The standard deviation (SD) and the maximum time difference (Dif) of the time to the minimum systolic volume (Tmsv) of the left ventricle were measured by RT-3DE. MCE was performed to obtain the perfusion measurement of each segment of the ventricular wall, including acoustic intensity (A), flow velocity (β), and A·β.Results: There were significant differences in all Tmsv indices except for Tmsv6-Dif among the three groups (all P &lt; 0.05). After heart rate correction, all Tmsv indices of the T2DM with microvascular complications group were prolonged compared with the control group (all P &lt; 0.05). The parameters of A, β, and A·β for overall segments showed a gradually decreasing trend in three groups, while the differences between the three groups were statistically significant (all P &lt; 0.01). For segmental evaluation of MCE, the value of A, β, and A·β in all segments showed a decreasing trend and significantly differed among the three groups (all P &lt; 0.05).Conclusions: The RT-3DE and MCE can detect subclinical myocardial dysfunction and impaired myocardial microvascular perfusion. Left ventricular dyssynchrony occurred in T2DM patients with or without microvascular complications and was related to left ventricular dysfunction. Myocardial perfusion was reduced in T2DM patients, presenting as diffuse damage, which was aggravated by microvascular complications in other organs.
Combined On-Fault and Off-Fault Paleoseismic Evidence in the Postglacial Infill of the Inner-Alpine Lake Achensee (Austria, Eastern Alps)
Authors: Oswald Patrick , Moernaut Jasper , Fabbri Stefano C. , De Batist Marc , Hajdas Irka , Ortner Hugo , Titzler Sebastian , Strasser Michael 
Published: June 2021

The Eastern European Alps are characterized by slow active deformation with low- to moderate seismicity. Recurrence rates of severe earthquakes exceed the time span of historical documentation. Therefore, historical and instrumental earthquake records might be insufficient for seismic hazard assessment and high-quality paleoseismic data is required. However, primary geological observations of postglacial fault activity are scarcely found, because major faults are buried below thick sedimentary sequences in glacially overdeepened valleys. Moreover, high erosion rates, gravitational slope processes and penetrative anthropogenic landscape modification often obscure geomorphic features related to surface ruptures. Here we present one of the rare paleoseismic data sets showing both on-fault evidence as subaqueous surface ruptures and off-fault evidence as multiple coeval mass-transport deposits (MTDs) and megaturbidites within a single high-resolution seismic-stratigraphic framework of the inner-alpine lake Achensee. Co-occurrence of on-fault and off-fault paleoseismic evidence on three stratigraphic levels indicates seismic activity with inferred moment magnitudes MW ∼6–6.5 of the local, lake-crossing Sulzgraben-Eben thrust at ∼8.3 ka BP and twice in Late Glacial times. Additional eight stratigraphic levels with only off-fault paleoseismic evidence document severe seismic shaking related to the historical MW ∼5.7 earthquake in Hall (CE 1670) and seven Holocene earthquakes, which have exceeded a local seismic intensity of ∼VI (EMS-98) at Achensee. Furthermore, we discuss natural and methodological influencing factors and potential pitfalls for the elaboration of a subaqueous paleoseismic record based on surface ruptures and multiple, coeval MTDs.
The Impact of 68Gallium DOTA PET/CT in Managing Patients With Sporadic and Familial Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumours
Authors: Cuthbertson Daniel J. , Barriuso Jorge , Lamarca Angela , Manoharan Prakash , Westwood Thomas , Jaffa Matthew , Fenwick Stephen W. , Nuttall Christina , Lalloo Fiona , Prachalias Andreas , Pizanias Michail , Wieshmann Hulya , McNamara Mairead G. , Hubner Richard , Srirajaskanthan Raj , Vivian Gillian , Ramage John , Weickert Martin O. , Pritchard D Mark , Vinjamuri Sobhan , Valle Juan , Yip Vincent S. 
Published: June 2021

ObjectivePancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (panNETs) arise sporadically or as part of a genetic predisposition syndrome. CT/MRI, endoscopic ultrasonography and functional imaging using Octreoscan localise and stage disease. This study aimed to evaluate the complementary role of 68Gallium (68Ga)-DOTA PET/CT in managing patients with panNETs.DesignA retrospective study conducted across three tertiary UK NET referral centres.MethodsDemographic, clinical, biochemical, cross-sectional and functional imaging data were collected from patients who had undergone a 68Ga-DOTA PET/CT scan for a suspected panNET.ResultsWe collected data for 183 patients (97 male): median (SD) age 63 (14.9) years, 89.1 vs. 9.3% (n=163 vs. 17) alive vs. dead (3 data missing), 141 sporadic vs. 42 familial (MEN1, n=36; 85.7%) panNETs. Non-functional vs. functional tumours comprised 73.2 vs. 21.3% (n=134 vs. 39) (10 missing). Histological confirmation was available in 89% of individuals (n=163) but tumour grading (Ki67 classiifcation) was technically possible only in a smaller cohort (n=143): grade 1, 50.3% (n=72); grade 2, 46.2% (n=66) and grade 3, 3.5% (n=5) (40 histopathological classification either not technically feasible or biopsy not perfomed). 60.1% (n=110) were localised, 14.2% (n=26) locally advanced and 23.5% (n=43) metastatic (4 missing). 224 68Ga-DOTA PET/CT scans were performed in total for: diagnosis/staging 40% (n=88), post-operative assessment/clinical surveillance 53% (n=117) and consideration of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) 8% (n=17) (2 missing). PET/CT results confirmed other imaging findings (53%), identified new disease sites (28.5%) and excluded suspected disease (5%). Overall, 68Ga-DOTA PET/CT imaging findings provided additional information in 119 (54%) patients and influenced management in 85 (39%) cases.Conclusion68Ga-DOTA PET/CT imaging more accurately stages and guides treatment in patients with sporadic/familial panNETs with newly diagnosed/recurrent disease.
Techno-Economic Optimization of an Integrated Biomass Waste Gasifier–Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Plant
Authors: Pérez-Fortes Mar , He Victoria , Nakajo Arata , Schiffmann Jürg , Maréchal François , Van herle Jan 
Published: June 2021

With a growing energy demand in a carbon-constrained society, fuels cells powered by renewable fuels, and specifically solid waste, are seen as interesting contributors to the energy portfolio. The alternative energy industry needs to reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and demonstrate durability and reliability to be economically feasible and attractive. This paper addresses biomass waste gasification in distributed energy systems, using a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) to produce electricity and heat. The potential and optimal plant efficiency and layout (i.e., anode off-gas (AOG) recirculation point via small-scale turbomachinery and heat exchanger network) are analyzed through a multi-stage approach that includes scenario evaluation and multi-objective optimization via a hybrid optimization strategy with heuristics and mathematical programming. The results in this paper summarize the most convenient operating conditions and provide an optimized heat exchanger network (HEN). The AOG recirculation toward the gasifier combustor is the preferred option; the electrical and thermal efficiencies can separately go up to 49 and 47%, respectively. The combined total efficiency ranges between 76 and 82%, and the area of heat exchange, which corresponds to an amount of heat exchanged between 91 and 117 kW, is within 6–14 m2.
Society’s Willingness to Pay for Certified Dry Firewood Energy in Chile
Authors: García Leidy Y. , Cerda Arcadio A. , Lagos Rocio del P. , Muñoz Patricio I. , Muñoz Monserrat 
Published: June 2021

Introduction: Air pollution is present in most cities in Chile due to smoke produced from firewood, as happened in many developing countries, generating various health problems among the population. This situation is especially prevalent in all cities in central and southern Chile. To mitigate it, the government implemented several measures, among which are the promotion of the use of certified dry firewood and hourly restrictions on the use of wood-burning stoves for heating according to the peak emissions of particulate matter.Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the willingness to pay for certified dry firewood as a means of reducing environmental restrictions on the use of wood-burning stoves to heat households.Materials and methods: The study used a non-market valuation, specifically contingent valuation, method using a double-bounded dichotomous choice format with the estimation of biprobit econometric models.Results: The results showed that the average individual was willing to pay 12 USD, and extrapolating that to the local population’s willingness to pay yielded an economic value of 3,415,140 USD, which to a certain extent represents the valuation of air pollution damage.Conclusion: Our results showed that people positively valued the use of dry firewood as a payment vehicle to improve air quality and thereby reduce restrictions on the use of certified dry firewood for heating. Therefore, complementary environmental policy measures should be continued to address the problem of air pollution in both the short and long term.
Causal Inference Between Chronic Periodontitis and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Analysis in a European Population
Authors: Yang Jie , Chen Tianyi , Zhu Yahong , Bai Mingxia , Li Xingang 
Published: June 2021

BackgroundPrevious epidemiological studies have shown significant associations between chronic periodontitis (CP) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), but the causal relationship remains uncertain. Aiming to examine the causal relationship between these two diseases, we conducted a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis with multiple MR methods.MethodsFor the casual effect of CP on CKD, we selected seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) specific to CP as genetic instrumental variables from the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in the GLIDE Consortium. The summary statistics of complementary kidney function measures, i.e., estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), were derived from the GWAS in the CKDGen Consortium. For the reversed causal inference, six SNPs associated with eGFR and nine with BUN from the CKDGen Consortium were included and the summary statistics were extracted from the CLIDE Consortium.ResultsNo significant causal association between genetically determined CP and eGFR or BUN was found (all p &gt; 0.05). Based on the conventional inverse variance-weighted method, one of seven instrumental variables supported genetically predicted CP being associated with a higher risk of eGFR (estimate = 0.019, 95% CI: 0.012–0.026, p &lt; 0.001).ConclusionEvidence from our bidirectional causal inference does not support a causal relation between CP and CKD risk and therefore suggests that associations reported by previous observational studies may represent confounding.
Single-Cell TCR and Transcriptome Analysis: An Indispensable Tool for Studying T-Cell Biology and Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Pasetto Anna , Lu Yong-Chen 
Published: June 2021

T cells have been known to be the driving force for immune response and cancer immunotherapy. Recent advances on single-cell sequencing techniques have empowered scientists to discover new biology at the single-cell level. Here, we review the single-cell techniques used for T-cell studies, including T-cell receptor (TCR) and transcriptome analysis. In addition, we summarize the approaches used for the identification of T-cell neoantigens, an important aspect for T-cell mediated cancer immunotherapy. More importantly, we discuss the applications of single-cell techniques for T-cell studies, including T-cell development and differentiation, as well as the role of T cells in autoimmunity, infectious disease and cancer immunotherapy. Taken together, this powerful tool not only can validate previous observation by conventional approaches, but also can pave the way for new discovery, such as previous unidentified T-cell subpopulations that potentially responsible for clinical outcomes in patients with autoimmunity or cancer.
Plant Small RNA World Growing Bigger: tRNA-Derived Fragments, Longstanding Players in Regulatory Processes
Authors: Alves Cristiane S. , Nogueira Fabio T. S. 
Published: June 2021

In the past 2 decades, the discovery of a new class of small RNAs, known as tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs), shed light on a new layer of regulation implicated in many biological processes. tRFs originate from mature tRNAs and are classified according to the tRNA regions that they derive from, namely 3′tRF, 5′tRF, and tRF-halves. Additionally, another tRF subgroup deriving from tRNA precursors has been reported, the 3′U tRFs. tRF length ranges from 17 to 26 nt for the 3′and 5′tRFs, and from 30 to 40 nt for tRF-halves. tRF biogenesis is still not yet elucidated, although there is strong evidence that Dicer (and DICER-LIKE) proteins, as well as other RNases such as Angiogenin in mammal and RNS proteins family in plants, are responsible for processing specific tRFs. In plants, the abundance of those molecules varies among tissues, developmental stages, and environmental conditions. More recently, several studies have contributed to elucidate the role that these intriguing molecules may play in all organisms. Among the recent discoveries, tRFs were found to be involved in distinctive regulatory layers, such as transcription and translation regulation, RNA degradation, ribosome biogenesis, stress response, regulatory signaling in plant nodulation, and genome protection against transposable elements. Although tRF biology is still poorly understood, the field has blossomed in the past few years, and this review summarizes the most recent developments in the tRF field in plants.
A Ferroptosis-Related lncRNAs Signature Predicts Prognosis and Immune Microenvironment for Breast Cancer
Authors: Zhang Kaiming , Ping Liqin , Du Tian , Liang Gehao , Huang Yun , Li Zhiling , Deng Rong , Tang Jun 
Published: June 2021

Background: Ferroptosis, a regulated cell death which is driven by the iron-dependent peroxidation of lipids, plays an important role in cancer. However, studies about ferroptosis-related Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in breast cancer (BC) are limited. Besides, the prognostic role of ferroptosis-related lncRNAs and their relationship to immune microenvironment in breast cancer remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the potential prognostic value of ferroptosis-related lncRNAs and their relationship to immune microenvironment in breast cancer.Methods: RNA-sequencing data of female breast cancer patients were downloaded from TCGA database. 937 patients were randomly separated into training or validation cohort in 2:1 ratio. Ferroptosis-related lncRNAs were screened by Pearson correlation analysis with 239 reported ferroptosis-related genes. A ferroptosis-related lncRNAs signature was constructed with univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses in the training cohort, and its prognostic value was further tested in the validation cohort.Results: An 8-ferroptosis-related-lncRNAs signature was developed by multivariate Cox regression analysis to divide patients into two risk groups. Patients in the high-risk group had worse prognosis than patients in the low-risk group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed the risk score was an independent prognostic indicator. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis proved the predictive accuracy of the signature. The area under time-dependent ROC curve (AUC) reached 0.853 at 1 year, 0.802 at 2 years, 0.740 at 5 years in the training cohort and 0.791 at 1 year, 0.778 at 2 years, 0.722 at 5 years in the validation cohort. Further analysis demonstrated that immune-related pathways were significantly enriched in the high-risk group. Analysis of the immune cell infiltration landscape showed that breast cancer in the high-risk group tended be immunologically “cold”.Conclusion: We identified a novel ferroptosis-related lncRNA signature which could precisely predict the prognosis of breast cancer patients. Ferroptosis-related lncRNAs may have a potential role in the process of anti-tumor immunity and serve as therapeutic targets for breast cancer.
Identification of High-Risk of Recurrence in Clinical Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Tsutani Yasuhiro , Shimada Yoshihisa , Ito Hiroyuki , Miyata Yoshihiro , Ikeda Norihiko , Nakayama Haruhiko , Okada Morihito 
Published: June 2021

ObjectiveThis study aimed to identify patients at a high risk of recurrence using preoperative high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsA total of 567 patients who underwent screening and 1,216 who underwent external validation for clinical stage I NSCLC underwent lobectomy or segmentectomy. Staging was used on the basis of the 8th edition of the tumor–node–metastasis classification. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method, and the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify independent prognostic factors for RFS.ResultsA multivariable Cox analysis identified solid component size (hazard ratio [HR], 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.30–2.12; P &lt; 0.001) and pure solid type (HR, 1.82; 95% CI 1.11–2.96; P = 0.017) on HRCT findings as independent prognostic factors for RFS. When patients were divided into high-risk (n = 331; solid component size of &gt;2 cm or pure solid type) and low-risk (n = 236; solid component size of ≤2 cm and part solid type) groups, there was a significant difference in RFS (HR, 5.33; 95% CI 3.09–9.19; 5-year RFS, 69.8% vs. 92.9%, respectively; P &lt; 0.001). This was confirmed in the validation set (HR, 5.32; 95% CI 3.61–7.85; 5-year RFS, 72.0% vs. 94.8%, respectively; P &lt; 0.001).ConclusionsIn clinical stage I NSCLC, patients with a solid component size of &gt;2 cm or pure solid type on HRCT were at a high risk of recurrence.
Neonatal Resuscitation With T-Piece Systems: Risk of Inadvertent PEEP Related to Mechanical Properties
Authors: Drevhammar Thomas , Falk Markus , Donaldsson Snorri , Tracy Mark , Hinder Murray 
Published: June 2021

Background: Resuscitation of infants using T-piece resuscitators (TPR) allow positive pressure ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). The adjustable PEEP valve adds resistance to expiration and could contribute to inadvertent PEEP. The study indirectly investigated risk of inadvertent peep by determining expiratory time constants. The aim was to measure system expiratory time constants for a TPR device in a passive mechanical model with infant lung properties.Methods: We used adiabatic bottles to generate four levels of compliance (0.5–3.4 mL/cm H2O). Expiratory time constants were recorded for combinations of fresh gas flow (8, 10, 15 L/min), PEEP (5, 8, 10 cm H2O), airway resistance (50, 200 cm H2O/L/sec and none), endotracheal tube (none, size 2.5, 3.0, 3.5) with a peak inflation pressure of 15 cm H2O above PEEP.Results: Low compliances resulted in time constants below 0.17 s contrasting to higher compliances where the expiratory time constants were 0.25–0.81 s. Time constants increased with increased resistance, lower fresh gas flows, higher set PEEP levels and with an added airway resistance or endotracheal tube.Conclusions: The risk of inadvertent PEEP increases with a shorter time for expiration in combination with a higher compliance or resistance. The TPR resistance can be reduced by increasing the fresh gas flow or reducing PEEP. The expiratory time constants indicate that this may be clinically important. The risk of inadvertent PEEP would be highest in intubated term infants with highly compliant lungs. These results are useful for interpreting clinical events and recordings.
Dietary Inorganic Nitrate Protects Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Through NRF2-Mediated Antioxidative Stress
Authors: Li Shaorong , Jin Hua , Sun Guangyong , Zhang Chunmei , Wang Jinsong , Xu Hufeng , Zhang Dong , Wang Songlin 
Published: June 2021

Objectives: Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) is of common occurrence during liver surgery and liver transplantation and may cause hepatic impairment, resulting in acute liver dysfunction. Nitrate plays an important physiological regulatory role in the human body. Whether dietary nitrate could prevent HIRI is, however, unknown.Methods: A HIRI mouse model was established in that the blood supply to the median lobe and left lateral lobe was blocked for 60 min through the portal vein and related structures using an atraumatic clip. Sodium nitrate (4 mM) was administrated in advance through drinking water to compare the influence of sodium nitrate and normal water on HIRI.Results: Liver necrosis and injury aggravated after HIRI. The group treated with sodium nitrate showed the lowest activities of plasma aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase and improved outcomes in histological investigation and TUNEL assay. Mechanistically, sodium nitrate intake increased plasma and liver nitric oxide levels, upregulated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)–related molecules to reduce malondialdehyde level, and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes to modulate hepatic oxidative stress.Conclusions: Dietary inorganic nitrate could prevent HIRI, possibly by activating the NRF2 pathway and modulating oxidative stress. Our study provides a novel therapeutic compound that could potentially prevent HIRI during liver transplantation or hepatic surgery.