bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modifying requests in a foreign language
Authors: Li Wei 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
This longitudinal study examines the pragmatic development of Australian learners of Chinese in their use of
internal modifiers of requests over the course of a semester. An eight-situation DCT was used to collect data. A perception
questionnaire and informal interviews were also used to aid the interpretation of the data. Results indicate that despite
considerable pragmalinguistic development in some areas, learners’ overall use of Chinese internal modifiers still lagged far
behind that of native speakers. Moreover, there was only a little evidence of situational variation. Hence this study suggests the
precedence of pragmalinguistic over sociopragmatic development. The study adds to the small but growing body of research on
pragmatic development in L2 Chinese.
Evidentiality, discourse prominence and grammaticalization
Authors: Boye Kasper 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
This paper seeks to answer three questions: (1) What is the difference between grammatical and lexical indications of information source? (2) What qualifies an element for grammaticalization as an evidential? (3) How can we identify grammatical evidentials and instances of evidential grammaticalization? The answers proposed are as follows: (1) The difference between grammatical and lexical indications of information source is a difference between indications conventionalized as discourse secondary and indications conventionalized as potentially discourse primary. (2) A candidate for grammaticalization as an evidential must (i) have propositional scope, (ii) belong in the conceptual domain of information source, (iii) be frequent enough to pass the threshold for conventionalization, and (iv) be discourse secondary, but not by convention. (3) Grammatical evidentials and instances of evidential grammaticalization can be identified based on focusablity, addressability and modifiability.
A tutorial of characterization methods on flexible pressure sensors: fundamental and applications
Authors: Wan Yongbiao , Qiu Zhiguang , Yuan Jun , Yang Junlong , Li Junze , Guo Chuan Fei 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Flexible pressure sensors that respond to normal contact force, play a pivotal role in a wide range of applications, such as health monitoring, robotic perception and artificial intelligence. With the increasing demand for specialized and high-performance pressure sensors, the key parameters of these sensors, including sensitivity, detection range, linearity, response time, and cyclic stability, etc, have become crucial factors in determining their suitability for specific applications. The characterization of these key parameters has therefore become an essential step in the overall research process. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive tutorial on the characterization methods for flexible pressure sensors. Sections 1 and 2 provide a brief introduction to the research motivation and sensing mechanism, respectively. In section 3, we systematically discuss the fundamental of characterization methods on flexible pressure sensors, covering study facilities and characterization methods for assessing basic performances and analyzing device mechanism. Furthermore, in section 4, we present approaches for evaluating the application potential of flexible pressure sensors. Lastly, we address critical challenges and offer perspectives on the advancement and characterization methods of flexible pressure sensors. Our aim is to provide a valuable tutorial guideline that assists researchers, particularly beginners, in establishing their experimental facilities and study platforms, while enabling them to effectively characterize the performance of flexible pressure sensors.
The role of surface roughness on the electrical behavior of flexible and stretchable screen-printed silver ink on Kapton substrate
Authors: Abdelatty Mohamed Y , Umar Ashraf , Khinda Gurvinder S , Cadwell Ryan J , Levy Joshua A , Huang Nancy , Weerawarne Darshana L , Alhendi Mohammed , Miller Scott M , Poliks Mark D 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Changes in the morphology and profile of the printed electronic traces affect the radio frequency (RF) performance, especially when compared to the simulated designs, which are primarily rectangular and smooth. The shape and morphology of the printed traces depend on the printing system, a combination of ink and substrate properties, and the printed technology used for fabrication. This paper investigates the significance of printing parameters like roughness, height, width, and profile shape on the RF performance of screen-printed traces statistically. This paper also derives a model based on actual profile shape and roughness measurements from incorporating these effects into the simulations. From the statistical study, we found that the role of surface roughness becomes more significant as the frequency increases. Thus, modeling surface roughness in flexible hybrid electronics simulations is fundamental for accurate results. Different simulated profile shapes also showed their effect on the RF performance, when combined with roughness, showed better correlation with experimental data. Our proposed model combines the modified Morgan and Hammerstad equation with the compound conductor model. Our proposed model uniquely integrates the modified Morgan and Hammerstad equation with the compound conductor model, leveraging a comprehensive approach focused on the quality and uniformity of printed electronics trace. This integration is aimed at constructing a model that is firmly grounded in actual roughness data, resulting in a solution that is both straightforward to implement and exceptionally accurate in its outcomes. The model agreed well with experimental measurement data over 7 GHz–40 GHz with a root-mean-square error average of 5.7%.
Feasibility of sequential anaerobic-aerobic integrated settler-based biofilm reactor for onsite treatment of domestic wastewater
Authors: Singh Surya Pratap , Sharma Meena Kumari , Sarangi Shailesh Kumar , Pandey Shatrudhan , Deifalla Ahmed Farouk , Hasnain S M Mozammil 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The present study investigates the applicability of sequential anaerobic aerobic integrated settler-based biofilm reactor (SAABR) for the onsite treatment of domestic wastewater. The main aim of the study is to overcome the inherent flaws in an anaerobic system as well as enhancing the effluent quality by means of aerobic post-treatment. The sequential system consisted of an anaerobic settler is followed by two biofilters, anaerobic as well aerobic in series. The first biofilter is anaerobic and the second one is aerobic. The system was run on two hydraulic loading conditions (steady and non-steady flow) with a 24-hour hydraulic retention time (HRT) for the anaerobic system and a 2-hour HRT of aerobic filters. It was found that the performance of the system at steady flow stood at 93.9 ± 2.6, 93.3 ± 1.8, 91.2 ± 4.2, 75.8 ± 3.8 and 98.7 ± 1.1% in terms of total suspended solids (TSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN) and faecal coliform (FC), respectively while at non-steady flow, it decreased slightly. The Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) showed the presence of anaerobic bacteria in the system. The system is able to overcome the major flaws of the anaerobic systems and able to deliver high effluent quality. The study demonstrated that the sequential system can be a sustainable alternative for the onsite treatment of domestic wastewater, particularly in rural areas of the developing countries like India.
Validation of the OPTICS and H2FPEF risk scores for post-capillary pulmonary hypertension in an asian cohort
Authors: Jiang H , Loh S , Ruan W , Oh Y Z , Ismail A , Lim C L , Sumathy P , Low A , Hong C , Ng S A , Phua G C , Sewa D W , Lim S T , Tan J L , Yap J 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Background
The differentiation between pre- and post-capillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) plays a significant impact in the management of PH patients. Right heart catheterization (RHC) serves as an important test to facilitate this differentiation. However, the RHC is invasive and oftentimes in Asia, the uptake and availability of the RHC due to costs and other considerations may be limited. The OPTICS score was previously developed to predict a raised pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) in patients with PH. The H2FPEF score is typically used to predict heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) but has been suggested to be able to predict raised PCWP as well. Both scores have been validated in European cohorts, however the utility of this score in an Asian population is unknown.

Purpose
We aim to validate the utility of the OPTICS and H2FPEF scores in predicting the presence of a raised PCWP in an Asian population.

Methods
Available data from patients admitted to a tertiary cardiac center in Asia who had received a RHC between July 2018 to June 2022 were included. The established cut offs for the OPTICS and H2FPEF scores of ≥104 and ≥6 respectively were applied retrospectively to predict the presence of raised PCWP (defined as ≥15 mmHg) and the results compared to the actual PCWP from RHC. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under curves (AUC) were calculated. A sensitivity analysis was performed with the exclusion of patients with mixed PH (PCWP ≥15 mmHg with pulmonary vascular resistance ≥3 WU).

Results
433 patients were included, of which 274 had a raised PCWP ≥15 mmHg and 159 had a PCWP &lt;15 mmHg. With a cut-off of ≥104, the OPTICS risk score had a specificity of 96%, sensitivity of 20%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 90%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 41%, and accuracy of 48%. With a cut-off of ≥6, the H2FPEF score had a specificity of 86%, sensitivity of 30%, PPV of 79%, NPV of 42%, and accuracy of 51%. The OPTICS and H2FPEF scores had an AUC of 0.69 and 0.66 respectively (Figure 1). Sensitivity analysis excluding patients with mixed PH (n=173) was performed and similar results were obtained.

Conclusion
In our Asian cohort, the high specificity of the OPTICS score may help in better identifying a subset of PH patients with postcapillary PH, potentially reducing the need of RHC in this group and guiding overall management. The lower sensitivity of both scores suggest that these scores should not be used as routine screening tools.ROC curves of OPTICS vs H2FPEF scores
Urinary proteomic analysis for biomarker discovery of pulmonary arterial hypertension-induced right ventricular failure
Authors: Qin X , Guo X , Fang Q , Fang L , Sun W , Zhang J , Qin Y , Du L 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Background
Right ventricular failure (RVF) is one of the independent and strong predictors of mortality in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Urine is more suitable and sensitive for biomarker discovery with no need for homeostatic control compared to blood.

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate candidate urinary biomarkers for RV structural and functional monitoring during PAH progression.

Methods
The urinary proteome of 21 monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH rats (8 controls, 8 of compensated RV group, 5 of decompensated RV group) were identified using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). And the differential proteins were verified by parallel reaction monitoring (PRM)-targeted quantitative proteomics. Candidate biomarkers were further validated using ELISA in the urine of PAH patients.

Results
In total, 1811 urinary proteins were identified with at least 1 unique peptide (FDR≤1%). Compared to the control group of rats, 118 and 184 proteins were altered in the compensated and decompensated groups, respectively, and 62 differential proteins were found between the two stages (2.0-fold change, p&lt; 0.05). The canonical pathways revealed that complement system, glutathione metabolism and iron homeostasis were enriched in the compensated stage, while interferon signaling, fibrosis, Wnt signaling and epithelial-mesenchymal transition were enriched in the failing stage. Four proteins confirmed by PRM, which were also of good discrimination ability of two RV stages were selected for further validation. ELISA results of the urine of PAH patients showed that IL18BP, IFNABR, LGALS3BP and α2-AP were sequentially elevated as disease progressed. Correlation analysis with clinical indicators showed that these proteins were positively correlated with right atrial pressure and right heart dilation, and negatively correlated with cardiac index and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion. The combination of these four proteins panel could significantly distinguish PAH patients from healthy controls (AUC=0.985, 95%CI 0.955-1) and performs well in distinguishing high-risk PAH patients from low-risk ones (AUC=0.922, 95%CI 0.807-1).

Conclusions
Novel RVF candidate urinary biomarkers were found through in-depth proteomic analysis of PAH rat model. The panel of these four proteins, which were significantly correlated with RV structural remodeling and systolic function, showed good performance in diagnosis and risk stratification of PAH patients.Figure 1.Study workflowFigure 1.Main results of the study
Hemodynamic changes with pulmonary arterial hypertension targeted therapies: a meta-analysis of 3898 treatment-naive patients
Authors: Farmakis I , Baroutidou A , Patsiou V , Arvanitaki A , Doundoulakis I , Hobohm L , Zafeiropoulos S , Konstantinides S , D'alto M , Badagliacca R , Giannakoulas G 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Background
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)-targeted therapies exert significant hemodynamic changes. We aimed to systematically synthesize these effects and explore the pulmonary pressure and flow changes in relation to the resistance changes.

Methods
We systematically searched PubMed, CENTRAL, and Web of Science for studies evaluating the hemodynamic effects (mean pulmonary artery pressure [mPAP], cardiac index/output [CI/CO], pulmonary vascular resistance [PVR]) of PAH-targeted therapies (comprising endothelin receptor antagonists [ERA], phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors [PDE5i], prostanoids [either i.v./s.c. or p.o./inh], riociguat, and selexipag) either in monotherapy or combinations as assessed by right heart catheterization (RHC) in treatment-naïve PAH patients. We performed a random-effects meta-analysis and used meta-regression to evaluate the contribution of mPAP % reduction and CI/CO % increase on the PVR % reduction across different treatment groups.

Results
We included 68 studies comprising 90 treatment groups and 4276 patients (age 47.3±13.2, 74% women). PVR reduction as a percentage of the pre-treatment value was more pronounced in the oral + prostanoid i.v./s.c. combination therapy (mean difference [MD] -50.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI] -60.8%; -39.2%), compared to oral combination therapy (MD -41.7%, 95% CI -47.6%; -35.8%), prostanoid i.v./s.c. monotherapy (MD -31.8%, 95% CI -37.6%; -25.9%), and oral monotherapy (MD -21.6%, 95% CI -25.4%; -17.8%) (Figure 1). The contribution of mPAP % reduction and of CI/CO % increase to the PVR % reduction was equally significant in all treatment groups (Figure 2). In the oral combination therapy group CI/CO % increase had superior contribution over mPAP % reduction (R2 90% vs R2 0%), but this difference was driven by an outlier study with n = 8 patients and after the exclusion of the outlier, the contribution of mPAP % reduction and of CI/CO % increase to the PVR % reduction was equally significant also in the oral combination group. The same results applied in a sensitivity analysis including only studies with idiopathic/heritable/drugs-induced/connective tissue disease-associated PAH patients.

Conclusion
Combination therapies, especially with the inclusion of parenteral prostanoids, lead to remarkable hemodynamic improvement in treatment-naïve PAH patients. The contribution of mPAP and CI/CO % changes to the overall PVR % reduction is equally significant.Figure 1Figure 2
Risk assessment according to the presence of left heart disease phenotype in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients: a multicenter cohort study
Authors: Toma M , Barbisan D , Lombardi C M , Airo E , Driussi M , Gentile P , Howard L , Moschella M , Di Poi E , Garascia A , Adamo M , Sinagra G , Lo Giudice F , Stolfo D , Ameri P 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Introduction
Subclinical left heart disease (LHD) may impact the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) [1].

Purpose
To evaluate the influence of a LHD phenotype on PAH risk stratification.

Methods
We retrospectively reviewed the data of consecutive PAH patients followed at 7 tertiary centers from 2001 to 2021, and selected those with all parameters available to determine risk of death by means of the COMPERA and COMPERA 2.0 scores, both at baseline and at the first disease reassessment including right heart catheterization. These subjects were classified as no-LHD or LHD according to the AMBITION trial criteria, i.e. absence or presence, respectively, of ≥ 3 among body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2, systemic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease; and/or pulmonary vascular resistance between 3 and 3.75 WU or between 3.75 and 6.25 WU together with pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) between 13 and 15 mmHg [2,3]. The characteristics between the 2 groups were compared by chi-square test, T-test, or Mann-Whitney test, and Kaplan-Meier curves for overall survival by log-rank test.

Results
Of 286 patients included in the analysis, 57 (20%) had a LHD phenotype. The first complete reassessment was performed 7 ± 5 months after baseline. Compared with no-LHD, subjects with LHD were older, had more often cardiovascular comorbidities, and had higher E/e’ ratio, left atrial area and PAWP, but had lower brain natriuretic peptide concentrations and better right ventricular function and pulmonary hemodynamics (Figure 1). They were also less commonly treated with phosphodiesterase inhibitors or riociguat (54% vs 70%, P=0.03) and dual oral therapy (26% vs 43%, P=0.03), while they used more beta-blockers (47% vs 16%, P&lt;0.001) and ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (40% vs 21%, P=0.004).
At baseline, the proportion of patients with low vs high risk was greater in LHD than in no-LHD with COMPERA, but not with COMPERA 2.0. Moreover, risk profile significantly improved during follow-up only in no-LHD with COMPERA, but in both groups with COMPERA 2.0 (Figure 1).
While all-cause mortality was significantly different across baseline COMPERA and COMPERA 2.0 risk strata in no-LHD, either approach for risk stratification failed to discriminate LHD subgroups with different prognosis (Figure 2). However, both COMPERA and COMPERA 2.0 risk categories differentiated mortality in LHD at the first disease reassessment (log-rank P &lt;0.001, not shown).

Conclusions
This study suggests that the performance of risk stratification scores COMPERA and COMPERA 2.0 in PAH subjects with a LHD phenotype is limited, although the former may retain value during follow-up. Alternative tools may be needed for prognostication in this patient subset.
Incidence of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary Hypertension after acute pulmonary embolism in real-world practice
Authors: Hobohm L , Below M , Farmakis I T , Barco S , Munzel T , Konstantinides S , Keller K , Paschke L M 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Background
Recently a large prospective multicentre observational cohort study demonstrated a 2-year cumulative CTEPH incidence of 2.3% after acute PE with a standardized and pre-defined follow-up plan. Thus, we sought to investigate the prevalence and incidence of CTEPH diagnosis after acute PE in real-world practice in a twelve-year observational period.

Methods
This study is based on nationwide ambulatory billing claims (VDA) and drug prescription (AVD) data of all residents with statutory health insured (SHI) in Germany from 2010 to 2019 (approx. 73 million in 2019).

Results
We identified 573,972 patients with acute PE in the German ambulatory care system between 2010 and 2019. The majority of patients were women (57.4%) and had a median age of 71 years. Prevalence of CTEPH increased during this twelve-year observational period from 0.4% in 2010 to 0.7% in 2019. Overall, a CTEPH diagnosis was made in 2556 (0.4%) patients after acute PE during a follow-up of 30 quarters (90 months). The majority of CTEPH cases (17.7%) were diagnosed in the first quarter after the index PE event. The incidence rate after the first quarter was calculated as 0.08%. The cumulative incidence after two years (8th quarter) was calculated as 0.37% and after the complete follow-up time (90 months) as 0.76% (Figure 1). Patients with CTEPH diagnosis during follow-up had considerably more often a diagnosis of acute right ventricular dysfunction at the index PE event compared to patients without CTEPH during follow-up (14.9% vs. 8.3%; ARR +6.67%). Regarding predisposing risk factors for CTEPH, especially hypothyreodism and consecutive levothyroxine application were more often present in patients with acute PE and CTEPH diagnosis during follow-up opposed to those without (18.9% vs. 16.8%; ARR +2.11%).

Conclusions
In conclusion, our study provides a comprehensive view of incidence of CTEPH after acute PE in real-word practice. The low rate of CTEPH incidence after acute PE indicate a limited awareness regarding CTEPH and lack of standardized follow-up for patients with acute PE in real-world practice, which may lead to a considerable under-diagnosis of CTEPH in Germany. On the basis of these data, a better implantation of existing clinical evaluation strategies for follow-up after acute PE seems indicated.Cumulative Incidence CTEPH