bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of physical, mechanical and sliding wear properties of in-situ AB-TiC composite: a comparison with NAB alloy
Authors: Rathod S , Srivastava Yogesh , Kiragi Vinayaka R , Patnaik Amar 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the physical, mechanical and sliding wear properties/response of cast in-situ aluminium bronze (AB)-TiC [(Cu10Al3Fe)5TiC] composite and compare with cast nickel aluminium bronze (NAB) [Cu10Al5Ni5Fe] alloy. Sliding wear tests were conducted in dry and partially lubricant conditions using a pin-on-disc machine. A test material in the form of pin was evaluated against a rotating heat-treated EN-31 steel disc. Wear loss, frictional heating and friction coefficient properties were examined. The NAB alloy showed higher tensile strength (32.7%), compressive strength (7.68% at room temperature. and 4.18% at 500 °C), hardness (8.78%) and density (3.17%), whereas thermal conductivity of the AB-TiC composite was found 4.89% higher than NAB alloy. In dry sliding condition, composite outperformed NAB alloy in terms of wear resistance up to a critical applied load and/or sliding speed. Beyond this point, the wear behavior altered. Increasing sliding speed caused to reduce wear transition load. While friction coefficient showed mixed trend. Under lubricated wear test conditions, AB-TiC composite displayed considerably higher wear resistance (50.08%, 44.41% & 51.55%) and friction coefficient (26.37%, 40.75% & 14.96%) than the NAB alloy when tested in only oil, oil with 100 μm graphite and oil with 7–10 μm graphite respectively. Arrival of seizure in general caused significantly higher wear loss and temperature rise. In addition, it caused large adhesion of the specimen material to the disc surface. The reported wear behaviour of the samples has been validated using the features of wear surfaces and subsurface regions. The latter also permitted to comprehend the working wear processes. The analysis significantly shows good impacts of the oil lubrication (with and without solid particles) in terms of decreasing wear rate, frictional heating, and friction coefficient. Formation of steady lubricating film/layer was reported to be responsible for the better wear performance of the samples. Furthermore, irrespective of material composition and microstructure there exists a precise set of test parameters (e.g. load and speed) leading to optimal wear performance wherein the beneficial impacts of load bearing capability, thermal stability of various phases predominates.
End-to-end AI framework for interpretable prediction of molecular and crystal properties
Authors: Park Hyun , Zhu Ruijie , Huerta E A , Chaudhuri Santanu , Tajkhorshid Emad , Cooper Donny 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
We introduce an end-to-end computational framework that allows for hyperparameter optimization using the DeepHyper library, accelerated model training, and interpretable AI inference. The framework is based on state-of-the-art AI models including CGCNN, PhysNet, SchNet, MPNN, MPNN-transformer, and TorchMD-NET. We employ these AI models along with the benchmark QM9, hMOF, and MD17 datasets to showcase how the models can predict user-specified material properties within modern computing environments. We demonstrate transferable applications in the modeling of small molecules, inorganic crystals and nanoporous metal organic frameworks with a unified, standalone framework. We have deployed and tested this framework in the ThetaGPU supercomputer at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility, and in the Delta supercomputer at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications to provide researchers with modern tools to conduct accelerated AI-driven discovery in leadership-class computing environments. We release these digital assets as open source scientific software in GitLab, and ready-to-use Jupyter notebooks in Google Colab.
Extracellular Vesicles Derived From Hypoxia-Treated Human Adipose Stem Cells Increase Proliferation and Angiogenic Differentiation in Human Adipose Stem Cells
Authors: Li Wei , Chen Xu , Zou Feng , He Xiaotong 
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Background
Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are crucial in cell-assisted lipotransfer (CAL). ADSC-derived exosomes could improve the survival of CAL. Almost all relevant research now ignores ADSCs in favor of studying the proangiogenic potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Objectives
Given the significance of ADSCs in CAL, the authors sought to verify that EVs from ADSCs under hypoxia treatment can enhance the angiogenic potential of ADSCs.

Methods
EVs were harvested from human ADSCs (hADSCs) under normoxia and hypoxia. A Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to measure the proliferation of hADSCs. By examining the expression of CD31, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, and vascular endothelial growth factor, the pro-angiogenic differentiation potential was assessed. Moreover, a tube formation experiment was carried out to evaluate the pro-angiogenic differentiation potential.

Results
Hypoxic EVs showed more significant pro-proliferative and pro-angiogenic potential. Angiogenesis was more vigorous in hADSCs treated with hypoxic EVs than in those treated with nomorxic EVs. The hADSCs treated with hypoxic EVs expressed higher angiogenic markers, according to real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis, which revealed more angiogenic marker expression in hypoxic EV–treated hADSCs. The same result was demonstrated by tube formation on Matrigel in vitro.

Conclusions
Hypoxic EVs significantly increased the proliferation and angiogenic differentiation potential of hADSCs. Hypoxic EV–treated ADSCs may be beneficial to CAL and prevascularized tissue-engineered constructs.
Risk stratification for the detection of metachronous polyps after bowel screening polypectomy: clinical outcomes from the Integrated Technologies for Improved Polyp Surveillance (INCISE) study cohort
Authors: Johnstone Mark S , Stoops Reiss , Lynch Gerard , Hay Jennifer , Jawny Jakub , Sloan William , Edwards Joanne , McSorley Stephen T 
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Background
After colorectal polypectomy, 20–50 per cent of patients develop metachronous polyps and some have increased colorectal cancer risk. British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) 2020 guidelines recommend surveillance colonoscopy for high-risk patients based on index pathology. The aim of this study was to evaluate metachronous lesion outcome using BSG 2020 criteria.

Methods
A retrospective, multicentred study was conducted including patients who had polypectomy during screening colonoscopy (2009–2016) followed by surveillance. Demographics, index pathology, and BSG 2020 risk criteria were compared with regard to metachronous lesion pathology (non-advanced versus advanced lesions) and timing of detection (early versus late). Advanced lesions were defined as adenomas/serrated polyps greater than or equal to 10 mm, high-grade dysplasia, serrated polyps with dysplasia, or colorectal cancer, and late lesions those detected greater than 2 years after the index procedure.

Results
Of 3090 eligible patients, 2643 were included. Among these, retrospective BSG 2020 application would have excluded 51.5 per cent from surveillance. After a median of 36 months, the advanced polyp/colorectal cancer rate in BSG 2020 high-risk patients was 16.3 versus 13.0 per cent in low-risk patients. Older age (P = 0.008) correlated with advanced metachronous lesions. Male sex, greater than five polyps, and BSG 2020 high-risk criteria correlated with non-advanced and advanced lesions (P &lt; 0.001). Older age (P &lt; 0.001), villous features (P = 0.006), advanced index polyp (P = 0.020), and greater than five polyps (P &lt; 0.001) correlated with early metachronous lesions. Male sex and BSG 2020 high-risk criteria correlated with early and late lesions (P &lt; 0.001). On multivariable regression, increased polyp number (odds ratio (OR) 1.15 (95 per cent c.i. 1.07 to 1.25); P &lt; 0.001) and villous features (OR 1.49 (95 per cent c.i. 1.05 to 2.10); P = 0.025) independently correlated with early advanced lesions. The rate of non-advanced and advanced metachronous polyps was higher in BSG 2020 high- versus low-risk patients (44.4 versus 35.4 per cent for non-advanced and 15.7 versus 11.8 per cent for advanced; P &lt; 0.001), but the colorectal cancer rate was similar (0.6 versus 1.2 per cent). However, when examining only lesions detected greater than 2 years after the index colonoscopy in high- versus low-risk patients, no significant differences were observed (P = 0.140).

Conclusion
BSG 2020 criteria correlated with metachronous polyps, but did not differentiate advanced and non-advanced lesions and were not predictive of late lesions.
In Vivo Evaluation of the Pharmacokinetic Interaction between Levothyroxine and Amiodarone in Rat Plasma: Evaluation of Importance of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring during Co-Therapy
Authors: AlSawy Norhan S , ElKady Ehab F , Mostafa Eman A 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) is a common condition in patients who are receiving amiodarone for cardiac arrhythmia. This risk is elevated in iodine-deficient regions. Levothyroxine is the standard treatment for patients with hypothyroidism. This investigation is concerned with the evaluation of the possible pharmacokinetic interaction between amiodarone and levothyroxine upon co-therapy in rats and to investigate the cause of thyrotoxicosis. A selective, sensitive and precise RP-HPLC method was developed for the simultaneous determination of levothyroxine and amiodarone in rat plasma. A stationary phase of C18 Xterra RP column and a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile: acidified water with 0.1% trifluoracetic acid (pH = 4.8) with gradient elution were used. The experiment was conducted at ambient temperature with flow rate of 1.5 mL/min for the chromatographic separation and quantitation of the investigated drugs. Protein precipitation with methanol was applied for the analysis of the two drugs in rat plasma. The method was linear over concentration range of 5–200 μg/mL for both levothyroxine and amiodarone. The European Medicines Agency guideline was applied for the validation of the developed bioanalytical method. The method was successfully applied to in vivo pharmacokinetic study in which levothyroxine and amiodarone were quantified in plasma of rats after receiving an oral dose of levothyroxine and amiodarone. After the calculation of the pharmacokinetic parameters, a statistical analysis was performed to elucidate the existence of significant difference between test and control groups in rats. The combination of levothyroxine and amiodarone significantly decreased levothyroxine bioavailability in rats, making the therapeutic drug monitoring mandatory in patients receiving levothyroxine and amiodarone. In addition, the increased clearance of levothyroxine upon the co-administration with amiodarone may explain the reported hypothyroidism.
Research protocol for the Paraesophageal hernia symptom tool, a prospective multi-center cohort study to identify the need and threshold for surgery and assess the symptom response to surgery
Authors: Menon Nainika , Guidozzi Nadia , Chidambaram Swathikan , Puri Aiysha , Sounderajah Viknesh , Ferri Lorenzo , Griffiths Ewen A , Low Donald , Maynard Nick , Mueller Carmen , Pera Manuel , van Berge Henegouwen Mark I , Watson David I , Zaininotto Giovanni , Hanna George B , Markar Sheraz R 
Published: May 2023

Summary
Large hiatus hernias with a significant paraesophageal component (types II–IV) have a range of insidious symptoms. Management of symptomatic hernias includes conservative treatment or surgery. Currently, there is no paraesophageal hernia disease-specific symptom questionnaire. As a result, many clinicians rely on the health-related quality of life questionnaires designed for gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GORD) to assess patients with hiatal hernias pre- and postoperatively. In view of this, a paraesophageal hernia symptom tool (POST) was designed. This POST questionnaire now requires validation and assessment of clinical utility. Twenty-one international sites will recruit patients with paraesophageal hernias to complete a series of questionnaires over a five-year period. There will be two cohorts of patients—patients with paraesophageal hernias undergoing surgery and patients managed conservatively. Patients are required to complete a validated GORD-HRQL, POST questionnaire, and satisfaction questionnaire preoperatively. Surgical cohorts will also complete questionnaires postoperatively at 4–6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and then annually for a total of 5 years. Conservatively managed patients will repeat questionnaires at 1 year. The first set of results will be released after 1 year with complete data published after a 5-year follow-up. The main results of the study will be patient’s acceptance of the POST tool, clinical utility of the tool, assessment of the threshold for surgery, and patient symptom response to surgery. The study will validate the POST questionnaire and identify the relevance of the questionnaire in routine management of paraesophageal hernias.
Navigating premature rupture of the expandable sheath delivery system during elective transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a case report
Authors: Chapman Andrew R , Russell-Dalton Anastasia , Holland James , Flapan Andrew D 
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Background
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has revolutionised the treatment of severe aortic stenosis, but is still associated with a risk of major vascular complication.

Case summary
An elective transfemoral TAVI was undertaken for severe aortic stenosis. During delivery of a 26mm Sapien S3 valve, the delivery system sheath (eSheath) split prematurely. The valve could not be advanced, and lay parallel to the sheath body. Following advice, an attempt was made to remove the system en bloc but this was unsuccessful. After careful consideration of alternative options, the valve was advanced with reasonable force and the case was completed successfully. The femoral artery was closed with parclose sutures without major vascular complication.

Discussion
Early recognition of a split sheath with effective communication between lab team members and the manufacturer allowed us to successfully navigate this case, with a good outcome for our patient.
Massive myocardial infiltration by primary anaplastic T-cell lymphoma: a case report
Authors: Cumitini Luca , Rossi Lidia , Giubertoni Ailia , Patti Giuseppe 
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Background
Myocardial infiltration by primary cardiac neoplasm is a rare entity, providing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The pathological spectrum includes more frequently benign forms. Refractory heart failure, pericardial effusion, and arrhythmias due to infiltrative mass are the most common clinical manifestations.

Case summary
We describe the case of a 35-year-old man complaining of shortness of breath and weight loss in the last 2 months. A previous acute myeloid leukaemia treated with allogenic bone marrow transplant was reported. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed an apical thrombus in the left ventricle, with inferior and septal hypokinesia conditioning a mildly reduced ejection fraction, circumferential pericardial effusion, and abnormal right ventricular thickening. Cardiac magnetic resonance confirmed diffuse thickening of the right ventricular free wall due to myocardial infiltration. Positron emission tomography showed the presence of neoplastic tissue with increased metabolic activity. A pericardiectomy was performed showing a widespread cardiac neoplastic infiltration. Histopathological analysis done on right ventricular pathological samples obtained during cardiac surgery revealed the presence of a rare and aggressive cardiac anaplastic T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Few days after the operation, the patient developed refractory cardiogenic shock and unluckily died before initiating an adequate antineoplastic therapy.

Discussion
Primary cardiac lymphoma is not frequent, and the lack of specific symptoms makes the diagnosis extremely challenging and often limited to autopsy findings. Our case highlights the importance of an appropriate diagnostic algorithm, requiring non-invasive multimodality assessment imaging and then invasive cardiac biopsy. This approach may allow an early diagnosis and an adequate therapy for this otherwise fatal pathology.
Creatinine-based European Kidney Function Consortium equation is superior to the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation for mortality risk stratification in general non-Black population
Authors: Lu Xinyi , Gao Rongrong , Liao Shengen 
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Aims
A recent study demonstrated that the new modified estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equation proposed by the European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) was more accurate and precise than the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation. This study aimed to compare the prognostic values of these two creatinine-based equations with regard to all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in general non-Black population.

Methods and results
A population-based cohort study was conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database from 1999 to 2018, and 38 983 non-Black individuals aged 20 years or older without a history of dialysis were enrolled. Among 38 983 participants, 6103 deaths occurred after a median follow-up duration of 112 months, of which 1558 deaths were due to cardiovascular causes. There were U-shaped relations between the eGFR values and the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. The areas under the curves for the EKFC were significantly higher than those for the CKD-EPI equation for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. The integrated discrimination improvement for the EKFC equation compared with the CKD-EPI equation was 2.40% and 1.26% for 10-year all-cause and cardiovascular mortality; the net reclassification improvement for the EKFC equation compared with the CKD-EPI equation was 8.67% and 11.13% for 10-year all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality.

Conclusion
Creatinine-based EKFC equation outperformed the CKD-EPI equation for the prediction of long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the general non-Black population.
Heterogeneous Effects of Women's Schooling on Fertility, Literacy and Work: Evidence from Burundi's Free Primary Education Policy
Authors: Wild Frederik , Stadelmann David 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
This article investigates the effect of women's schooling on fertility as well as on associated mechanisms by leveraging Burundi's free primary education policy (FPE) of 2005 as a natural experiment. Exogenous variation in schooling is identified through a fuzzy regression discontinuity design. Our results show that educational attainment was positively influenced by Burundi's FPE for women situated at all wealth levels. However, the relevant downstream effects of schooling—measured by fertility, literacy and work outcomes—reveal heterogenous treatment effects which are moderated by women's household wealth. While poor women profit in terms of increases in literacy (6.7 percentage-point increase for each year of policy-induced schooling), remunerated employment opportunities (5.7 percentage-point increase), as well as a reduction in desired and actual fertility outcomes (6.9 percentage-point reduction in teenage childbirth), none of these effects of additional education are observed for women from the wealthier households of our sample. The evidence of such a marked heterogeneity contributes to the growing literature examining the nexus between education and fertility in developing countries and helps to evaluate under which conditions the literature's findings may generalize.
Molecular mechanisms protecting centromeres from self-sabotage and implications for cancer therapy
Authors: Nassar Rim , Thompson Lily , Fouquerel Elise 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Centromeres play a crucial role in DNA segregation by mediating the cohesion and separation of sister chromatids during cell division. Centromere dysfunction, breakage or compromised centromeric integrity can generate aneuploidies and chromosomal instability, which are cellular features associated with cancer initiation and progression. Maintaining centromere integrity is thus essential for genome stability. However, the centromere itself is prone to DNA breaks, likely due to its intrinsically fragile nature. Centromeres are complex genomic loci that are composed of highly repetitive DNA sequences and secondary structures and require the recruitment and homeostasis of a centromere-associated protein network. The molecular mechanisms engaged to preserve centromere inherent structure and respond to centromeric damage are not fully understood and remain a subject of ongoing research. In this article, we provide a review of the currently known factors that contribute to centromeric dysfunction and the molecular mechanisms that mitigate the impact of centromere damage on genome stability. Finally, we discuss the potential therapeutic strategies that could arise from a deeper understanding of the mechanisms preserving centromere integrity.
Feeling sleepy? stop driving—awareness of fall asleep crashes
Authors: Anderson Clare , Cai Anna W T , Lee Michael L , Horrey William J , Liang Yulan , O’Brien Conor S , Czeisler Charles A , Howard Mark E 
Published: May 2023

AbstractStudy ObjectivesTo examine whether drivers are aware of sleepiness and associated symptoms, and how subjective reports predict driving impairment and physiological drowsiness.MethodsSixteen shift workers (19–65 years; 9 women) drove an instrumented vehicle for 2 hours on a closed-loop track after a night of sleep and a night of work. Subjective sleepiness/symptoms were rated every 15 minutes. Severe and moderate driving impairment was defined by emergency brake maneuvers and lane deviations, respectively. Physiological drowsiness was defined by eye closures (Johns drowsiness scores) and EEG-based microsleep events.ResultsAll subjective ratings increased post night-shift (p &lt; 0.001). No severe drive events occurred without noticeable symptoms beforehand. All subjective sleepiness ratings, and specific symptoms, predicted a severe (emergency brake) driving event occurring in the next 15 minutes (OR: 1.76–2.4, AUC &gt; 0.81, p &lt; 0.009), except “head dropping down”. Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), ocular symptoms, difficulty keeping to center of the road, and nodding off to sleep, were associated with a lane deviation in the next 15 minutes (OR: 1.17–1.24, p&lt;0.029), although accuracy was only “fair” (AUC 0.59–0.65). All sleepiness ratings predicted severe ocular-based drowsiness (OR: 1.30–2.81, p &lt; 0.001), with very good-to-excellent accuracy (AUC &gt; 0.8), while moderate ocular-based drowsiness was predicted with fair-to-good accuracy (AUC &gt; 0.62). KSS, likelihood of falling asleep, ocular symptoms, and “nodding off” predicted microsleep events, with fair-to-good accuracy (AUC 0.65–0.73).ConclusionsDrivers are aware of sleepiness, and many self-reported sleepiness symptoms predicted subsequent driving impairment/physiological drowsiness. Drivers should self-assess a wide range of sleepiness symptoms and stop driving when these occur to reduce the escalating risk of road crashes due to drowsiness.