bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serum inflammatory biomarkers are associated with increased choroidal thickness in keratoconus
Authors: Pinheiro-Costa João , Lima Fontes Mário , Luís Carla , Martins Sandra , Soares Raquel , Madeira Dulce , Falcão-Reis Fernando , Carneiro Ângela 
Published: July 2023

AbstractInflammation may play a significant role in Keratoconus (KC), but the relationship between inflammatory markers and choroidal thickness (CT) is unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum inflammatory markers and correlate them with the choroidal profile of KC patients and control subjects. Forty patients with KC and 26 age-matched control subjects were enrolled in a cross-sectional case–control study. Choroidal profile was studied with a Spectralis Heidelberg apparatus and venous blood samples were collected. Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte/HDL ratio (MHR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and systemic immune inflammation index (SII) were calculated. Serum inflammatory biomarkers IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alfa were also analyzed. KC group presented thicker choroids in each evaluated point when compared to the control group (subfoveal CT 417.38 ± 79.79 vs 299.61 ± 76.13, p < 0.001 for all measured locations). Mean values of NLR, PLR and SII were significantly higher in patients with KC (NLR p = 0.001; PLR p = 0.042; SII p = 0.007). Although KC patients presented higher mean levels of MHR, IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α than control group, no significant differences were achieved. Positive correlations were found between subfoveal CT and NLR and SII (0.408, p = 0.001 and 0.288, p = 0.019 respectively). The results presented are in favor of a relationship between the increased CT and inflammatory mechanisms in KC patients. The elevated serum inflammatory indices NLR, SII and PLR provide additional evidence of a role for systemic inflammation in the pathophysiology of KC.
Predicting phytochemical diversity of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) across eco-climatic zones and elevation in Uttarakhand using Generalized Additive Model
Authors: Tiwari Deepti , Kewlani Pushpa , Gaira Kailash S. , Bhatt Indra D. , Sundriyal R. C. , Pande Veena 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe present study uses a systematic approach to explore the phytochemical composition of medicinal plants from Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya. The phytochemical composition of medicinal plants was analyzed based on (i) the presence of different chemical groups and (ii) bioactive compounds. The Generalized Additive Model (GAM) analysis was used to predict the occurrence of chemical groups and active compounds across different eco-climatic zones and the elevation in Uttarakhand. A total of 789 medicinal plants represented by 144 taxonomic families were screened to explore the phytochemical diversity of the medicinal plants of Uttarakhand. These medicinal plant species are signified in different life forms such as herbs (58.86%), shrubs (18.24%), trees (17.48%), ferns (2.38%), and climbers (2.13%). The probability of occurrence of the chemical groups found in tropical, sub-tropical, and warm temperate eco-climatic zones, whereas active compounds have a high Probability towards alpine, sub-alpine, and cool temperate zones. The GAM predicted that the occurrence of species with active compounds was declining significantly (p < 0.01), while total active compounds increased across elevation (1000 m). While the occurrence of species with the chemical group increased, total chemical groups were indicated to decline with increasing elevation from 1000 m (p < 0.000). The current study is overwhelmed to predict the distribution of phytochemicals in different eco-climatic zones and elevations using secondary information, which offers to discover bioactive compounds of the species occurring in the different eco-climatic habitats of the region and setting the priority of conservation concerns. However, the study encourages the various commercial sectors, such as pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, chemical, food, and cosmetics, to utilize unexplored species. In addition, the study suggests that prioritizing eco-climatic zones and elevation based on phytochemical diversity should be a factor of concern in the Himalayan region, especially under the climate change scenario.
Automatic stridor detection using small training set via patch-wise few-shot learning for diagnosis of multiple system atrophy
Authors: Ahn Jong Hyeon , Lee Ju Hwan , Lim Chae Yeon , Joo Eun Yeon , Youn Jinyoung , Chung Myung Jin , Cho Jin Whan , Kim Kyungsu 
Published: July 2023

AbstractStridor is a rare but important non-motor symptom that can support the diagnosis and prediction of worse prognosis in multiple system atrophy. Recording sounds generated during sleep by video-polysomnography is recommended for detecting stridor, but the analysis is labor intensive and time consuming. A method for automatic stridor detection should be developed using technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning. However, the rarity of stridor hinders the collection of sufficient data from diverse patients. Therefore, an AI method with high diagnostic performance should be devised to address this limitation. We propose an AI method for detecting patients with stridor by combining audio splitting and reintegration with few-shot learning for diagnosis. We used video-polysomnography data from patients with stridor (19 patients with multiple system atrophy) and without stridor (28 patients with parkinsonism and 18 patients with sleep disorders). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to propose a method for stridor detection and attempt the validation of few-shot learning to process medical audio signals. Even with a small training set, a substantial improvement was achieved for stridor detection, confirming the clinical utility of our method compared with similar developments. The proposed method achieved a detection accuracy above 96% using data from only eight patients with stridor for training. Performance improvements of 4%–13% were achieved compared with a state-of-the-art AI baseline. Moreover, our method determined whether a patient had stridor and performed real-time localization of the corresponding audio patches, thus providing physicians with support for interpreting and efficiently employing the results of this method.
Kinematic running resistance of an urban rail vehicle undercarriage: a study of the impact of wheel design
Authors: Semenov Stanislav , Mikhailov Evgeny , Kovtanets Maxim , Sergienko Oksana , Dižo Ján , Blatnický Miroslav , Gerlici Juraj , Kostrzewski Mariusz 
Published: July 2023

AbstractUrban railway vehicles are important means of transport in towns and cities due to their high capacity, power source, and low running resistance, which make them efficient for operation. Although these properties are considered advantages, there is still room for improvement in their operational efficiency. The main objective of this article is to investigate the impact of railway wheel design on the level of kinematic running resistance, which is expressed as the amount of mechanical energy losses during the interaction of wheels with rails. This research focuses on simulation computations of two variants of wheel design schemes: the traditional design scheme (TKS) and a perspective design scheme (PKS) characterized by a rotating flange independently of the wheel tread surface. Two undercarriage multibody models have been created, one with TKS and one with PKS, and simulation computations have been performed for running speeds of 10 km/h, 20 km/h, 30 km/h, and 40 km/h on track models in curves with radii of 20, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 m. The evaluated indicators affecting the level of mechanical energy losses were creep forces, slip velocities, and average power. The most important findings of this study are that the PKS design scheme resulted in lower values of all assessed parameters.
Evaluating initial responses to brolucizumab in patients undergoing conventional anti-VEGF therapy for diabetic macular edema: a retrospective, single-center, observational study
Authors: Hirano Takao , Kumazaki Akane , Tomihara Ryuji , Ito Syun , Hoshiyama Ken , Murata Toshinori 
Published: July 2023

AbstractOur retrospective, single-center, observational study aimed to evaluate the initial responses to intravitreal injection of brolucizumab (IVBr) in patients undergoing anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy for diabetic macular edema (DME). In total, 23 eyes of 20 patients with DME treated with at least one intravitreal injection of ranibizumab or aflibercept within one year and then switched to IVBr were included. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), and macular volume (MV) on optical coherence tomography images were evaluated just before the most recent conventional anti-VEGF (ranibizumab/aflibercept) injection therapy (V1), one month after the most recent traditional anti-VEGF therapy (V2), just before the first IVBr (V3), and one month after the first IVBr (V4). BCVA, CMT, MV, and presence of intraocular inflammation (IOI) were evaluated at each visit. Anterior chamber flare values were also examined at V3 and V4. BCVA showed significant improvement at V2 (0.30 ± 0.23) than V1 (0.39 ± 0.29) and at V4 (0.34 ± 0.26) than V3 (0.48 ± 0.34) (P = 0.002, P < 0.001). However, no significant difference was observed between V2 and V4 (P = 0.257). CMT was significantly thinner at V2 (346.8 ± 90.2 µm) than V1 (495.5 ± 123.8 µm), and at V4 (322.2 ± 95.7 µm) than V3 (536.5 ± 166.0 µm) (P < 0.001, P < 0.001), but no significant difference was observed between V2 and V4 (P = 0.140). MV was significantly smaller at V2 (11.6 ± 2.0 mm3) than V1 (12.6 ± 1.9 mm3) and at V4 (11.2 ± 2.0 mm3) than V3 (12.6 ± 2.0 mm3) (P < 0.001, P < 0.001), and even significantly smaller at V4 than V2 (P = 0.009). No patient had IOI. No significant changes were observed in anterior chamber flare values between V3 and V4 (25.6 ± 14.6 vs. 24.0 ± 11.5 photon count/ms; P = 0.543). Both CMT and MV significantly reduced without any adverse events one month after switching from conventional anti-VEGF to IVBr therapy for DME, including IOI. MV was significantly lower for IVBr than anti-VEGF therapy after one month of treatment. Therefore, brolucizumab may be a viable treatment option for DME patients considering switching from conventional anti-VEGF agents for various reasons, such as poor response or inability to extend dosing intervals.
Nickel ferrite nanoparticles doped on hollow carbon microspheres as a novel reusable catalyst for synthesis of N-substituted pyrrole derivatives
Authors: Mousavi Setareh , Naeimi Hossein , Ghasemi Amir Hossein , Kermanizadeh Shadan 
Published: July 2023

AbstractPyrroles are widely spread worldwide because of their critical applications, especially pharmacology. An expedition method for one-pot synthesis of N-substituted pyrrole derivatives has been presented by a reaction between 2,5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran and various primary aromatic amines in the presence of NiFe2O4 anchored to modified carbon hollow microspheres (NiFe2O4@MCHMs) as a recoverable reactive catalyst. The Classon-Kass method has been used to synthesize the pyrroles in excellent yields and short reaction times in the same direction with green chemistry rules. This reaction was carried out by employing NiFe2O4@MCHMs as a catalyst to make a simple procedure with short activation energy in water as an accessible, non-toxic, and biodegradable solvent. This catalyst provides a promising pathway to synthesize N-substituted pyrroles several times in a row through the recyclability without remarkable loss of its catalytic activity. The NiFe2O4@MCHMs nanocatalyst was characterized by applying FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, EDS, BET, TGA, VSM, and elemental mapping techniques. Also, the synthesized N-substituted pyrrole derivatives were identified using melting point, FT-IR, and 1H NMR analyses.
Characteristic associated with alcohol drinking in early pregnancy: a cross sectional study
Authors: Saxov Kristina R. , Pristed Sofie Gry , Kesmodel Ulrik Schiøler 
Published: July 2023

AbstractWe aimed to identify characteristics associated with alcohol drinking before and during pregnancy to better target pregnancy guidance and public health campaigns. A cross sectional study including 1895 pregnant women interviewed at 16 weeks’ gestation. Information on characteristics and drinking habits before and during pregnancy was collected by in-person interview. Associations between characteristics and alcohol consumption were estimated by ordinal logistic regression models. Average alcohol intake before pregnancy was categorised; 0; > 0–3; > 3–6; > 6 drinks/week; and intake during pregnancy 0; < 1; 1–3; > 3 drinks/week; binge drinking 0; 1; 2; 3; ≥ 4 episodes. Characteristics for average alcohol intake before pregnancy were older age, odds ratio (OR) 3.99 (95% CI 2.77–5.74) when being 35 years or older. Schooling > 10 years, being primiparous and partner’s alcohol consumption were also significantly associated with average alcohol intake before pregnancy. Characteristics for average alcohol intake during pregnancy were age 25 to  < 35 years, OR 0.78 (CI 95% 0.61–0.98) and being single OR 1.52 (CI 95% 1.01–2.29). Characteristics for binge drinking during pregnancy were smoking OR 1.34 (CI 95% 1.06–1.69) when binge drinking was defined as ≥ 3 drinks/occasion and OR 1.49 (CI 95% 1.18–1.91) when defined as ≥ 5 drinks/ occasion. Other characterises found with a significant association were schooling > 10 years, being single, being primiparous and partner’s alcohol consumption. We identified characteristics that may be considered when counselling pregnant women or women planning to conceive. Public persuasive campaigns can be used to reach the general public, especially women of childbearing age, before they start planning to conceive, but also their partners, since women with partners consuming alcohol, did show to be more likely to consume alcohol during pregnancy.
Unsupervised blind image quality assessment via joint spatial and transform features
Authors: Yang Chao , He Qinglin , An Ping 
Published: July 2023

AbstractA novel unsupervised blind image quality assessment (BIQA) method, which requires no mean opinion scores for model training is presented in this paper. The method employs joint spatial and transform features as quality degradation metrics, specifically, phase congruency, gradient magnitude (GM), and GM and Laplacian of Gaussian response and local normalized coefficient are extracted as spatial features, and Karhunen–Loéve transform coefficient and discrete cosine transform coefficient are modeled as transform features. Both spatial and transform features are well analyzed to remove the redundancy, and then fitted to the multivariate Gaussian model for no-reference image quality assessment. Extensive experiments conducted on seven IQA databases demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method over the state-of-the-art both supervised and unsupervised BIQA methods.
Efficient UAV path planning using coverage map‐based value iteration
Authors: Wu Zhaozhou , Zhang Xingqi 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThis letter presents an efficient coverage map‐based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) navigation framework in cellular communication systems. Unlike previous research that focused on viewing UAV navigation as a Markov decision process in unknown continuous state space and leveraged various model‐free and deep neural network‐based reinforcement learning algorithms, a more straightforward and efficient model‐based value iteration algorithm is proposed. The algorithm leverages prior knowledge obtained through empirical channel models to develop a sampled coverage map that can be used in value iteration. A deep neural network is subsequently trained with supervised learning to approximate the optimal Q function in continuous state space. Finally, the trained neural network is applied to obtain a UAV trajectory that optimizes the objective function.
PM 1-322: New variable planetary nebula
Authors: Paunzen E. , Bernhard K. , Budaj J. , Hambsch F.-J. , Hümmerich S. , Jones D. , Krtička J. 
Published: July 2023

Context. Spectra of planetary nebulae (PNe) are characterised by strong forbidden emission lines and often also by an infrared (IR) excess. A few PNe show dust obscuration events and/or harbour long-period binaries. Some post-asymptotic giant branch stars, symbiotic stars, or B[e] stars may feature similar characteristics. Recently, dust clouds eclipsing white dwarfs were also detected.
Aims. We report the discovery of an object with a very peculiar variability pattern that bears signatures compatible with the above-mentioned classes of objects. The object is ZTFJ201451.59+120353.4 and identifies with PM 1-322.
Methods. The object was discovered in Zwicky Transient Facility archival data and investigated with historical and newly obtained photometric and spectroscopic observations.
Results. The ZTF r and g data show a one magnitude deep, eclipse-like event with a duration of about half a year that occurred in 2022. The variability pattern of the star is further characterised by several dimming events in the optical region that are accompanied by simultaneous brightenings in the red and IR regions. Apart from that, two fast eruption-like events were recorded in ZTF r data. Archival data from WISE indicate long-term variability with a possible period of 6 or 12 yr. Our follow-up time series photometry reveals a stochastic short-term variability with an amplitude of about 0.1 mag on a timescale of about one hour. The spectral energy distribution is dominated by IR radiation. Our high-resolution spectroscopy shows strong forbidden emission lines from highly ionised species and symmetric double-peaked emission in Hα, which is very different from what is seen in earlier spectra obtained in 2007.
Conclusions. Several explanatory scenarios are presented. Our most likely interpretation is that our target object involves a hot central star surrounded by gaseous and dusty disks, an extended nebula, and a possible companion star. Further observations are required to shed more light on the true nature of this enigmatic object.
Arthroscopic Resection Arthroplasty for Scapholunate Advanced Collapse Wrist
Authors: Cobb Tyson , Chase Collin , Cobb Jessica 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Purpose Scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) wrist results from an untreated scapholunate dissociation and is the most common type of degenerative arthritis of the wrist. The most common surgical treatments for SLAC wrist are proximal row carpectomy and four-corner fusion with scaphoid excision. Arthroscopic surgical treatment for SLAC wrist has been reported; however, only limited data on functional outcomes are available. The purpose of this study is to report our 5-year follow-up clinical outcomes for arthroscopic treatment for SLAC wrist.
Methods Thirty-one consecutive cases of arthroscopic resection arthroplasty for SLAC wrist were reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores, range of motion, grip strength, and pain (on 0–10 scale) as well as postoperative satisfaction (0 = not satisfied, 5 = completely satisfied) were recorded. Grip and range of motion were measured by an occupational therapist.
Results The preoperative pain score was 7 and 0.18 postoperatively. The mean satisfaction at final follow-up was 4.8. Preoperative and final follow-up scores of the mean DASH was 48 and 3, respectively. The total arc of motion was 114 degrees preoperatively and 126.5 degrees postoperatively. Mean grip strength before surgery was 41 and 49 kg at final follow-up.
Conclusion Arthroscopic resection arthroplasty for SLAC wrist results in significant improvement in patient function as measured by DASH and pain scores.
Type of Study/Level of Evidence Therapeutic IV.
Analysis of social welfare impact of crop pest and disease damages due to climate change: a case study of dried red peppers
Authors: Han Donggeun , Yoo Donghee , Kim Taeyoung 
Published: July 2023

AbstractClimate change can affect agricultural production both directly and indirectly. The direct impact is through climate change itself while the indirect impact is through the outbreak of pests and diseases (P&D) affected by climate change. We measured the difference in social welfare change of dried red peppers in monetary values between these two effects based on constructed three models. In the P&D damage model, the effects of climatic factors on P&D damages were analyzed. In the yield model, the direct and indirect effects of climatic factors on the dried red pepper yields were analyzed. Lastly, the effect of rising temperatures on the social welfare of dried red peppers was measured in monetary values using the equilibrium displacement model (EDM). As a key result, although these rising temperatures increase the yields and social welfare, there are differences in social welfare change between with and without P&D damages, and the difference increases over time. This implies that global climate change can affect agricultural production around the world, which can affect food security around the world beyond changes in crop prices and social welfare. So rigorous pest control and damage predictions are needed.
Gap fluctuations, Cooper pairs with finite center-of-mass momentum, and suppression of superconductivity in inhomogeneous systems with dopant superpuddles agglomerates
Authors: Velasco Victor , Neto Marcello B Silva 
Published: July 2023

AbstractSpatially extended aggregates or clusters of dopants are ubiquitous in a plethora of granular superconducting systems, such as Al-dopedMgB2and N-dopedMo2N, forming a droplet network that is very important to their characterization and to the description of their superconducting properties. At the same time, one of the most studied classes of unconventional superconducting materials are the high-temperature superconductors, where special attention is given to the hole-doped cuprates, where the carrier concentration is controlled by the amount of extra interstitial oxygen dopants. In this context, the formation of spatially inhomogeneous aggregates of interstitial dopant oxygen atoms, in the form of nanosized superpuddles, is not only relevant, but also a subject of intense recent experimental and theoretical surveys. Following these efforts, in this work we investigate the consequences of the presence of networks of inhomogeneously distributed dopant superpuddles on the superconducting state. Starting from the inhomogeneous extended disordered background brought by the network of superpuddles, we demonstrate, with the aid of an effective interaction between electrons mediated by the local vibrational degrees of freedom of each puddle, that the Cooper pairs arising from an attractive interaction in an inhomogeneous medium have a finite center-of-mass (CM) momentum,p, that breaks up the Cooper channel. Furthermore, we derive an analytical expression for the amplitude of the superconducting gap,Δk, in terms of disorder and finite CM momentum and show that amplitude fluctuations are induced in the superconducting state by the presence of the superpuddles, where both the gap and the critical temperature are reduced by disorder and finite momentum pairs. Finally, we discuss our findings in the context of synchronized networks of superconducting oxygen nano-puddles in cuprates and in other granular superconducting systems.