bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors of depression among patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Kwiatkowska Brygida , Kłak Anna , Maślińska Maria , Mańczak Małgorzata , Raciborski Filip 
Published: September 2018

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess the correlation between symptoms of depression and the course and clinical picture of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Material and methods120 patients with RA were included in the study: 104 (87%) female patients and 16 (13%) male patients. All studied patients completed the following questionnaires: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test (FIRST), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). The serum levels of IL-1b, TNF-, and IL-6 were measured using standard ELISA assays at the time of the first questionnaire assessment.ResultsSymptoms of depression were found in 91 patients (76%), including 79 (87%) women and 12 (13%) men. There were no significant differences between the prevalence of depression in women and men (p = 0.93). Symptoms of depression occurred more often in patients who were professionally inactive, compared with the professionally active patients (p = 0.04). Significant correlations was demonstrated between the value of BDI and the patient’s pain assessed by the visual analogue scale (VAS) value (r = 0.36), the disease activity assessed by the patient and the physician evaluated in millimetres on the VAS scale (r = 0.38 and r = 0.30, respectively), the number of painful and swollen joints (r = 0.22 and r = 0.26, respectively), DAS28 (r = 0.31) as well as the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) value (r = 0.46). Longer duration of the disease was observed in patients with symptoms of depression (p = 0.02). Also a significant difference in the assessment of BDI between patients treated with biological drugs and those receiving no such treatment was observed (p = 0.042).ConclusionsProfessional inactivity and longer disease duration are important factors influencing symptoms of depression in patients with RA. Higher values of HAQ increase the probability of the occurrence of depression symptoms. The use of biological drugs that reduce the level of proinflammatory cytokines may have a positive effect on reducing the severity of depressive symptoms.
Antinuclear antibodies in healthy people and non-rheumatic diseases – diagnostic and clinical implications
Authors: Grygiel-Górniak Bogna , Rogacka Natalia , Puszczewicz Mariusz 
Published: September 2018

The presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) is mainly associated with connective tissue diseases (CTD). In addition, their presence is found in healthy people. These antibodies are more common in women and the elderly. Some drugs and xenobiotics are also important for the development of autoimmunity and ANA synthesis. Moreover, the deficiency of vitamin D in the body of patients correlates with occurrence of these antibodies. Unlike the healthy group, a positive ANA count was observed in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and in people with immune disorders. Antinuclear antibodies in low counts are also found in the course of chronic bacterial or viral infection and in patients with hematological malignancies. Also the possibility of false positive results, which may be caused by the choice of method used to determine antibodies, should be borne in mind. Taking into account all these factors, it is concluded that the ANA result itself has no diagnostic value.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura as the first presentation in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Bamidele Opeyemi F. , Akintayo Richard Oluyinka , Bojuwoye Mathew Olumuyiwa , Alabi Tolulope Oyetunde , Akintayo Foluke C. , Bamidele Oluwakemi V. 
Published: September 2018

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is an uncommon, life-threatening disease characterized by severe thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia, neurologic abnormalities, renal insufficiency, and fever commonly associated with infections, malignancy, drugs, and autoimmune diseases. Coexistence of TTP with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is extremely rare, and the emergence of the full manifestation of SLE starting with TTP is even rarer. Black people due to genetic risk factors are at increased risk of TTP. In the present article the authors describe the case of a Nigerian woman who developed classical features of TTP as the first manifestation of SLE. The patient’s condition was stabilized after treatment with intravenous pulses of methylprednisolone and subsequently on oral prednisolone and hydroxychloroquine treatment.
Speculations on the application of foliar 13C discrimination to reveal groundwater dependency of vegetation and provide estimates of root depth and rates of groundwater use
Authors: Rumman Rizwana , Cleverly James , Nolan Rachael H. , Tarin Tonantzin , Eamus Derek 
Published: September 2018

Abstract. Groundwater-dependent vegetation is globally distributed, having important
ecological, social, and economic value.
Along with the groundwater resources upon which it depends, this vegetation
is under increasing threat through excessive rates of groundwater extraction. In this study we examined one shallow-rooted and two deep-rooted tree species
at multiple sites along a naturally occurring gradient in
depth-to-groundwater. We measured (i) stable isotope ratios of leaves
(δ13C), xylem, and groundwater (δ2H and
δ18O); and (ii) leaf-vein density. We established that foliar
discrimination of 13C (Δ13C) is a reliable indicator
of groundwater use by vegetation and can also be used to estimate rooting
depth. Through comparison with a continental-scale assessment of foliar
Δ13C, we also estimated the upper limits to annual rates of
groundwater use. We conclude that maximum rooting depth for both deep-rooted
species ranged between 9.4 and 11.2 m and that annual rates of groundwater
use ranged from ca. 1400 to 1700 mm for Eucalyptus camaldulensis
and from 600 to 900 mm for Corymbia opaca. Several predictions
about hydraulic and leaf traits arising from the conclusion that these two
species made extensive use of groundwater were supported by additional
independent studies of these species in central Australia.
FINITELY SCOPED, HIGH RELIABILITY FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH MEASUREMENTS
Authors: Goossens Joshua R. , Mars William V. 
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACT
Classical procedures for characterizing fatigue crack growth behavior often suffer from uncertainties that make it difficult to plan for productive use of test instrument time, and that can result ultimately in too noisy measurements. An enhanced procedure has been implemented that is based on a fixed test time budget, and that establishes operating conditions that produce crack growth rates down to minimum measurable rates. The procedure features (1) a haversine pulse deformation test cycle followed by a rest period, (2) a strain peak that ramps linearly over time, (3) minimum and maximum limits on the strain peak chosen to avoid unproductive test time, and (4) a stress–strain probe cycle for purposes of observing strain energy density. A set of replicates of a carbon black filled, natural rubber bushing compound has been characterized via both procedures, and a statistical analysis is made to compare both. The new procedure significantly improves the quality of crack growth rate curve measurements.
RECENT DEVELOPMENT IN APPLICATION OF BIO-BASED OILS IN ELASTOMERS
Authors: Li Jiaxi , Isayev Avraam I 
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACTBio-based oil is an emerging oil source to replace petroleum oil products in elastomers as a plasticizer. It is renewable, low cost, and has many advantages over conventional petroleum plasticizers. Bio-based oil usually contains multiple functional groups and can be treated, modified, or polymerized for different applications. In this article, a brief overview of bio-based oil and such replacement is provided. An example of modified soybean oil used in carbon black–filled SBR compounds is discussed to show the change brought about by the use of bio-based oils.
TIME AND TEMPERATURE DEPENDENT PIEZORESISTIVE BEHAVIOR OF CONDUCTIVE ELASTOMERIC COMPOSITES
Authors: Bhagavatheswaran Eshwaran Subramani , Stöckelhuber Klaus Werner , Vaikuntam Sankar Raman , Wießner Sven , Pötschke Petra , Heinrich Gert , Das Amit 
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACTWe report about systematic studies on dynamic piezoresistive characteristics of conductive rubber composites. The temporal changes in electrical resistance of flexible electrically conductive rubber composites were simultaneously monitored during dynamic mechanical loading. Thus, influences of physical parameters such as frequency, temperature, strain amplitude, and matrix stiffness were explored in detail, and the mechanisms behind qualitatively discussed. The filler clusters were found to rearrange in the elastomer matrix during dynamic deformation, witnessed by the decrease in electrical resistance over time. Each test parameter had its own specific effect on the piezoresistance response, and the findings offered an understanding on the filler networking inside the solution styrene butadiene rubber matrix from the perspective of the dynamic piezoresistive characteristics. Higher piezoresistive response was observed near the glass transition temperature. We offer a deeper insight into the behavior and temporal changes in corresponding filler clusters during dynamic deformations of conducting rubber systems.
DYNAMIC PROPERTIES AND TIRE PERFORMANCES OF COMPOSITES FILLED WITH CARBON NANOTUBES
Authors: Shao Hong-Qi , Wei Hang , He Jiong-Hao 
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACT
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been widely studied in rubber goods and tire compounds to improve, for example, antistatic and thermal conductivity performances. CNTs were applied in passenger tire tread compounds to improve comprehensive tire performances, especially wet traction. High frequency dynamic properties of CNT-filled compounds were revealed for the first time. There was good correlation between compound dynamic properties and vehicle tire test results. The influence of CNTs on tire performances and their mechanisms was investigated and explained by the dynamic properties and master curve analysis in the frequency domain. Substituting 50 phr carbon black N234 by 20 phr CNTs could maintain hardness but increased static and dynamic moduli, which was beneficial for the tire handling, with 0.25 point improvement in the subjective testing. For the CNT-filled compounds, 1.5% traction improvement on a dry road and 6.5% traction improvement on a wet road can be explained successfully by the increased hysteresis loss (tan δ) and decreased storage modulus (G′) at high frequency domain (104–108 Hz). It is implied by Williams–Landel–Ferry law calculation that a strong interaction between CNTs and rubber resulted in higher temperature dependence; however, the trade-off was a 7% higher tire rolling resistance coefficient and 33% worse wear resistance for the CNT tires. CNT-filled compounds were demonstrated to have superior handling and traction performances suitable for racing and sports car tires.
Gabapentinoids and Risk of Hip Fracture
Authors: Leung Miriam T. Y. , Turner Justin P. , Marquina Clara , Ilomäki Jenni , Tran Tim , Bykov Katsiaryna , Bell J. Simon 
Published: November 2024

ImportanceThe increased use of gabapentinoids has been most pronounced in older people who are also susceptible to hip fractures.ObjectiveTo investigate the overall association between gabapentinoids and the risk of hip fractures and the stratified association across age groups, frailty status, and history of chronic kidney disease.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis was a case-case-time-control study in patients hospitalized for hip fracture in Victoria, Australia, between March 1, 2013, and June 30, 2018, with at least 1 prescription for a gabapentinoid before fracture. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI for gabapentinoid dispensing in the index (1-60 days prefracture) compared with the reference (121-180 days prefracture) period. To adjust for the underlying time trend in gabapentinoid use, each index case was matched with up to 5 controls, selected from future cases of the same age and sex. Subgroup analyses were conducted in subgroups with or without chronic kidney disease (CKD), frailty scores less than 5, and frailty scores 5 and above. Frailty was computed using the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS). Data were analyzed from November 2023 to April 2024.ExposureGabapentinoids (pregabalin or gabapentin).Main Outcome and MeasureHip fracture.ResultsOf 28 293 patients hospitalized for hip fractures, 2946 (1752 [59.5%] aged ≥80 years; 2099 [71.2%] female) were dispensed a gabapentinoid before hip fracture. Gabapentinoid dispensing was associated with increased odds of hip fractures (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.66-2.32). After adjusting for the exposure-time trend and concomitant use of other central nervous system medications, the odds of hip fractures remained elevated (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.07-1.57). The association between gabapentinoid dispensing and hip fracture was higher in patients with HFRS 5 and above (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.31-2.33) and CKD (OR, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.65-3.52).Conclusions and relevanceIn this case-case-time-control study of Australian residents hospitalized for hip fracture, gabapentinoid use was associated with an increased risk of hip fractures, especially in patients who were frail or had chronic kidney disease. In addition to the known risk associated with kidney impairment, frailty status may be an important risk factor when considering use of gabapentinoids.
Imaging in Diagnosis and Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer
Authors: Li Thomas , Nalavenkata Sunny , Fainberg Jonathan 
Published: November 2024

ImportanceActive surveillance (AS) has become an increasingly important option for managing low-risk and select intermediate-risk prostate cancer. Although imaging, particularly multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), has emerged in the prebiopsy pathway for the diagnosis of prostate cancer, the role of mpMRI in patient selection for AS and the necessity of prostate biopsies during AS remain poorly defined. Despite well-founded biopsy schedules, there has been substantial investigation into whether imaging may supplant the need for prostate biopsies during AS. This review aimed to summarize the contemporary role of imaging in the diagnosis and surveillance of prostate cancer.ObservationsMultiparametric MRI is the most established form of imaging in prostate cancer, with routine prebiopsy use being shown to help urologists distinguish between clinically significant and clinically insignificant disease. The visibility of these lesions on mpMRI closely correlates with their behavior, with visible disease portending a worse prognosis. Combined with other clinical data, risk calculators may better delineate patients with higher-risk disease and exclude them from undergoing AS. While current evidence suggests that mpMRI cannot replace the need for prostate biopsy during AS due to the possibility of missing higher-risk disease, the addition of prostate biomarkers may help to reduce the frequency of these biopsies. The role of prostate-specific antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography is still emerging but has shown promising early results as an adjunct to mpMRI in initial diagnosis.Conclusions and RelevanceImaging in prostate cancer helps to better select patients appropriate for AS, and future studies may strengthen the predictive capabilities of risk calculators. Multiparametric MRI has been shown to be imperative to rationalizing biopsies for patients enrolled in AS. However, heterogeneity in the evidence of mpMRI during AS has suggested that further prospective studies and randomized clinical trials, particularly in homogenizing reporting standards, may reveal a more defined role in monitoring disease progression.
Long-Term Outcomes of Component Separation for Abdominal Wall Hernia Repair
Authors: Fry Brian T. , Schoel Leah J. , Howard Ryan A. , Thumma Jyothi R. , Kappelman Abigail L. , Hallway Alexander K. , Ehlers Anne P. , O’Neill Sean M. , Rubyan Michael A. , Shao Jenny M. , Telem Dana A. 
Published: November 2024

ImportanceComponent separation is a reconstructive technique used to facilitate midline closure of large or complex ventral hernias. Despite a contemporary surge in popularity, the incidence and long-term outcomes after component separation remain unknown.ObjectiveTo evaluate the incidence and long-term outcomes of component separation for abdominal wall hernia repair.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cohort study examined 100% Medicare administrative claims data from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2021. Participants were adults (aged ≥18 years) who underwent elective inpatient ventral hernia repair. Data were analyzed from January through June 2024.ExposureUse of component separation technique during ventral hernia repair.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcomes were the incidence of component separation over time and operative recurrence rates up to 10 years after surgery for hernia repairs with and without component separation. The secondary outcome was rate of operative recurrence after component separation stratified by surgeon volume.ResultsAmong 218 518 patients who underwent ventral hernia repair, the mean (SD) age of the cohort was 69.1 (10.9) years; 127 857 patients (58.5%) were female and 90 661 (41.5%) male. A total of 23 768 individuals had component separation for their abdominal wall hernia repair. The median (IQR) follow-up time after the index hernia surgery was 7.2 (2.7-10) years. Compared with patients who did not have a component separation, patients undergoing repair with component separation were slightly younger; more likely to be male; and more likely to have comorbidities, including obesity, and had surgeries that were more likely to be performed open and use mesh. Proportional use of component separation increased from 1.6% of all inpatient hernia repairs in 2007 (279 patients) to 21.4% in 2021 (1569 patients). The 10-year adjusted operative recurrence rate after component separation was lower (11.2%; 95% CI, 11.0%-11.3%) when compared with hernia repairs performed without component separation (12.9%; 95% CI, 12.8%-13.0%; P = .003). Operative recurrence was lower for the top 5% of surgeons by component separation volume (11.9%; 95% CI, 11.8%-12.1%) as opposed to the bottom 95% of surgeons by volume (13.6%; 95% CI, 13.4%-13.7%; P = .004).Conclusions and RelevanceThis study found that component separation was associated with a protective effect on long-term operative recurrence after ventral hernia repair among Medicare beneficiaries, which is somewhat unexpected given the intent of its use for higher complexity hernias. Surgeon volume, while significant, had only a minor influence on operative recurrence rates.
Enhancing safety: Multi‐institutional FMEA and FTA on 177Lu$^{177}{\rm Lu}$‐based radio‐pharmaceutical therapy
Authors: George Siju C. , Aguirre Santiago , Maughan Nichole M. , Tolakanahalli Ranjini , Samuel E. James Jebaseelan , Gallo Sven L. , Zoberi Jacqueline E. , Lee Yongsook C. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractPurposeThis study investigates potential failure modes and conducts failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and fault tree analysis (FTA) on the administration of DOTATATE (LUTATHERA) and PSMA‐617 (PLUVICTO). The quality management (QM) process in radiopharmaceutical therapies (RPTs) requires collaboration between nuclear medicine (NM) and radiation oncology (RO) departments. As part of a multi‐institutional study, we surveyed various departments to identify and analyze failure modes, leading to a proposed comprehensive QM program. RPT teams in RO or NM clinics can benefit from this study by continually improving their practice.MethodsWe reviewed the literature to investigate the administration of Pluvicto and Lutathera, focusing on prospective procedural failures and potential failure modes (PFMs) and their outcomes. We distributed an FMEA survey to multiple experienced centers in ‐based RPTs and calculated risk priority number (RPN) for various PFM. We conducted an FTA using this information to pinpoint the root causes of potential failures.ResultsThe findings from the literature review and survey responses on the prospective study have identified several critical areas at risk of failure. These areas include non‐optimized treatment delivery, inadequate patient monitoring, and lack of safety training, leading to radiation contamination from the dose excreted by the patients after treatment administration. A segmented FTA was created based on the FMEA results, focusing on radiation contamination with a high RPN value.ConclusionBy identifying the root causes of failures and proposing targeted improvements to the existing QM measures, this analysis enhances safety in treatment delivery of ‐based RPTs. Given the limited number of prospective risk analysis studies in RPTs, our research addresses the necessity for more such studies and recommends methods to apply this study to other RPTs.
Conductive Islands Assisted Resistive Switching in Biomimetic Artificial Synapse for Associative Learning and Image Recognition
Authors: Jana Rajesh , Bhunia Ritamay , Paramanik Swapnamoy , Giri Kinsuk , Chowdhury Avijit 
Published: November 2024

AbstractSolution‐processed memristor devices hold significant potential for advancing synaptic applications, offering scalable, cost‐effective, and efficient solutions for next‐generation neuromorphic systems. These devices replicate the behavior of biological synapses with their gradual and continuous changes in resistance, making them promising for neuromorphic computing and artificial neural networks. However, understanding the temporal characteristics and cumulative effect of successive pulses on the devices is essential for emulating the dynamics of biological synapses. This study proposes a hybrid materials‐based conductive islands‐assisted resistive switching (CIARS) in a solution‐processed active layer consisting of thermally exfoliated graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4 abbreviated as CN) nanosheets embedded with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). The fabricated devices demonstrate repeatable and bipolar memory features with a lower operating voltage (≤0.5 V), emulating the frequency and amplitude‐dependent synaptic plasticities. The threshold switching occurs due to the formation of conduction filaments (CFs) of silver ion (Ag+), whereas the analog behavior results from the voltage pulse‐dependent modulation of Schottky barrier height combined with metallic CFs formation. The experimental findings demonstrate the efficacy of the CIARS mechanism within the material platform, highlighting its potential for applications in associative learning, Morse code detection, and image recognition.