bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Heat Flux Distribution on Flat Plate Compound Parabolic Concentrator With Different Geometric Indices
Authors: Shanmugam Mathiyazhagan , Maganti Lakshmi Sirisha 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThe Compound Parabolic Concentrator (CPC), when coupled with the photovoltaic system, namely the Concentrated Photovoltaic Thermal System (CPVT), makes utilizing solar energy efficient. The major challenge that hinders the electrical and thermal performance of the CPC–CPVT system is the non-uniform heat flux distribution on the absorber surface. In the present paper, detailed ray-tracing simulations have been carried out to understand the heat flux distribution characteristics of CPC with different geometrical conditions, and those are concentration ratio, truncation ratio, incident angle, and average heat flux on the absorber surface. To have a thorough understanding, the analysis has been carried out in multiple steps. First, it is performed by analyzing the effect of concentration ratio and incident angle on heat flux distribution characteristics at a fixed truncation ratio. Second, investigations have been carried out to understand the heat flux distribution characteristics at different truncation ratios and different incident angles by keeping the concentration ratio constant. Local concentration ratio and non-uniformity index have been employed to quantify the non-uniformity of heat flux distribution on the absorber surface. It has been observed that the 0-deg incidence angle is the most effective angle to achieve uniform heat flux distribution on the absorber surface. This paper sheds insight into the heat flux distribution characteristics on the absorber surface of a CPC–CPVT system which can be used by the research community for designing an effective CPVT system from the perspective of uniform heat flux distribution on the absorber surface.
Factors Associated With Physical Activity in Hospitalized Patients With Dementia
Authors: Drazich Brittany F. , Resnick Barbara , Boltz Marie , Galik Elizabeth , Kim Nayeon , McPherson Rachel , Ellis Jeanette , Phun Jasmine , Kuzmik Ashley 
Published: February 2023

Older adults continue to spend little time engaged in physical activity when hospitalized. The purpose of this study was to (a) describe activity among hospitalized older adults with dementia and (b) identify the association between specific factors (gender, ambulation independence, comorbidities, race, and hospital setting) and their physical activity. This descriptive study utilized baseline data on the first 79 participants from the Function Focused Care for Acute Care using the Evidence Integration Triangle. Multiple linear regression models were run using accelerometry data from the first full day of hospitalization. The participants spent an average of 83.7% of their time being sedentary. Male gender, ambulation independence, and hospital setting (the hospital in which the patient was admitted) were associated with greater activity. This study reports on the limited time spent in activity for older adults with dementia when hospitalized and highlights patient profiles that are particularly vulnerable to sedentary behavior in the hospital setting.
Physical Activity and Its Association With Body Mass Index: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in Middle-Aged Adults From 4 Sub-Saharan African Countries
Authors: Muti Monica , Ware Lisa J. , Micklesfield Lisa K. , Ramsay Michele , Agongo Godfred , Boua Palwende R. , Kisiangani Isaac , Cook Ian , Gómez-Olivé Francesc Xavier , Crowther Nigel J. , Kabudula Chodziwadziwa , Norris Shane A. , Chikowore Tinashe 
Published: February 2023

Background: This study aimed to explore association of self-reported physical activity domains of work, leisure, and transport-related physical activity and body mass index (BMI) in 9388 adult men and women from the Africa-Wits-INDEPTH partnership for Genomic (AWI-Gen) study in Africa. Africa-Wits-INDEPTH partnership for Genomic is a large, population-based cross-sectional cohort with participants from 6 sites from rural and urban areas in 4 sub-Saharan African countries. Methods: A sex-stratified meta-analysis of cross-sectional data from men and women aged 29–82 years was used to assess the association of physical activity with BMI. Results: Overall, meeting physical activity guidelines of at least 150 minutes per week was associated with 0.82 kg/m2 lower BMI in men (β = −0.80 kg/m2; 95% confidence interval [CI], −1.14 to −0.47) and 0.68 kg/m2 lower BMI in women (β = −0.68 kg/m2; 95% CI, −1.03 to −0.33). Sex and site-specific differences were observed in the associations between physical activity domains and BMI. Among those who met physical activity guidelines, there was an inverse association between transport-related physical activity and BMI in men from Nanoro (Burkina Faso) (β = −0.79 kg/m2; 95% CI, −1.25 to −0.33) as well as work-related physical activity and BMI in Navrongo men (Ghana) (β = −0.76 kg/m2; 95% CI, −1.25 to −0.27) and Nanoro women (β = −0.90 kg/m2; 95% CI, −1.44 to −0.36). Conclusions: Physical activity may be an effective strategy to curb rising obesity in Africa. More studies are needed to assess the impact of sex and geographic location-specific physical activity interventions on obesity.
Epoxidation of Olefins in the Presence of Molybdenum Catalysts based on Porous Aromatic Frameworks
Authors: Yarchak V. A. , Kulikov L. A. , Maximov A. L. , Karakhanov E. A. 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
A porous aromatic framework, namely PAF-30, was structurally modified by the introduction of complexing groups based on dipyridylamine, dipicolylamine, and acetylacetone. The materials synthesized in this manner were used as supports of molybdenum catalysts for epoxidation: PAF-30-dpa-Mo, PAF-30-dpcl-Mo, and PAF-30-AA-Mo. All the materials were examined by various analytic methods, such as IR spectroscopy, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption/desorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. The catalytic activity was tested in epoxidation of cyclohexene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, and styrene. The reusability of the catalysts was assessed using the case of cyclohexene epoxidation.
Exploring predictors and moderators of response to multimodal obesity treatment in children
Authors: Aman-Braaksma Simone , Croker Helen , Viner Russell M , Nicholls Dasha 
Published: February 2023

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine whether specific psychological factors influence intervention effects for children with severe obesity in a clinical setting.DesignSecondary analyses of data about attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) characteristics, body satisfaction, social and emotional functioning, and the primary outcome, change in body mass index (BMI), were available for 41 out of 72 children and their families randomised to family-based behavioural treatment over 6 months or waiting list control. Regression analyses, with an interaction term for treatment condition, were performed to explore baseline factors and moderators of outcome.ResultsParents reporting their child’s emotional well-being as high and high maternal education significantly predicted less weight loss for the total sample, with no effect of ethnicity, age, sex or baseline BMI. Children’s social functioning was a significant moderator of treatment effect; children with high social function showed a decrease in BMI after 6 months of therapy (R2=0.08–0.13), whereas an increase in BMI was observed in children with high social function who waited for treatment. For children with poor social function, no treatment effect was observed—subjects lost weight in both conditions. No significant moderation effect was found for body (dis)satisfaction, emotional status, comorbid depression or ADHD, adjusting for baseline BMI, age, sex and ethnicity.ConclusionsThese preliminary findings suggest directions for development of tailored obesity programmes. Professionals engaged in treatment of childhood obesity should consider a child’s emotional and social functioning when considering group obesity intervention, as well as the risks of no intervention.
Collagen type XII is undetectable in keratoconus Bowman’s layer
Authors: Rigi Mohammed , Son Hyeck-Soo , Moon Loren , Matthaei Mario , Srikumaran Divya , Jun Albert S , Eberhart Charles G , Soiberman Uri S 
Published: February 2023

PurposeCorneal biomechanical failure is the hallmark of keratoconus (KC); however, the cause of this failure remains elusive. Collagen type XII (COL12A1), which localises to Bowman’s layer (BL), is thought to function in stress-bearing areas, such as BL. Given the putative protective role ofCOL12A1in biomechanical stability, this study aims to characteriseCOL12A1expression in all corneal layers involved in KC.MethodsTaqMan quantitative PCR was performed on 31 corneal epithelium samples of progressive KC and myopic control eyes. Tissue microarrays were constructed using full-thickness corneas from 61 KC cases during keratoplasty and 18 non-KC autopsy eyes and stained with an antibody specific to COL12A1. Additionally,COL12A1was knocked out in vitro in immortalised HEK293 cells.ResultsCOL12A1expression was reduced at transcript levels in KC epithelium compared with controls (ratio: 0.58, p<0.03). Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that COL12A1 protein expression in BL was undetectable, with reduced expression in KC epithelium, basement membrane and stroma.ConclusionsThe apparent absence of COL12A1 in KC BL, together with the functional importance thatCOL12A1is thought to have in stress bearing areas, suggests thatCOL12A1may play a role in the pathogenesis of KC. Further studies are necessary to investigate the mechanisms that lead toCOL12A1dysregulation in KC.
Association of arterial stiffness and neuropathy in diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Beros Angela , Sluyter John , Scragg Robert Keith Rhodes 
Published: February 2023

Evidence is still emerging on the relationships of arterial stiffness with cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) and peripheral neuropathy (PN). To our knowledge no systematic reviews or meta-analyses of these associations have been published. The purpose of our review was to assess the association of arterial stiffness with each type of neuropathy. Medline and Embase were systematically searched for observational studies of arterial stiffness and neuropathy.The systematic review of 60 studies (25 for CAN and 37 for PN), 59 including people with diabetes, showed arterial stiffness overall was higher in people with neuropathy than people without neuropathy. Forty-three studies were included in the meta-analysis. For CAN (19 studies), arterial stiffness was increased in people with neuropathy compared with without, as measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV) (mean difference: 1.32 m/s, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.81, p<0.00001), pulse pressure (PP) (mean difference: 6.25 mmHg, 95% CI 4.51 to 7.99, p<0.00001) or augmentation index (mean difference: 5.52%, 95% CI 3.46 to 7.58, p<0.0001). For PN (26 studies), arterial stiffness was increased in people with neuropathy compared with those without, as measured by PWV (mean difference: 1.22 m/s, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.58, p<0.00001) or PP (mean difference: 4.59 mmHg, 95% CI 2.96 to 6.22, p<0.00001). Only two cohort studies were located so the temporality of the association between arterial stiffness and neuropathy remains unclear. Increased arterial stiffness is associated with CAN and PN.PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019129563.
Social deprivation does not impact on acute pancreatitis severity and mortality: a single-centre study
Authors: Lim Wei Boon , Robertson Francis P , Nayar Manu K , Sharp Linda , Nandhra Sandip , Pandanaboyana Sanjay 
Published: February 2023

Background and aimsThe incidence of acute pancreatitis (AP) is increasing in the UK. Patients with severe AP require a significant amount of resources to support them during their admission. The ability to predict which patients will develop multiorgan dysfunction remains poor leading to a delay in the identification of these patients and a window of opportunity for early intervention is missed. Social deprivation has been linked with increased mortality across surgical specialties. Its role in predicting mortality in patients with AP remains unclear but would allow high-risk patients to be identified early and to focus resources on high-risk populations.MethodsA prospectively collected single-centre database was analysed. English Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) was calculated based on postcode. Patients were grouped according to their English IMD quintile. Outcomes measured included all-cause mortality, Intestive care unit (ITU) admission, overall length of stay (LOS) and local pancreatitis-specific complications.Results398 patients with AP between 2018 and 2021 were identified. There were significantly more patients with AP in Q1 (IMD 1–2) compared with Q5 (IMD 9–10) (156 vs 38, p<0.001). Patients who were resident in the most deprived areas were significantly younger (52.4 in Q1 vs 65.2 in Q5, p<0.001), and more often smokers (39.1% in Q1 vs 23.7% in Q5, p=0.044) with IHD (95.0% vs 92.1% in Q5, p<0.001). In multivariate modelling, there was no significance difference in pancreatitis-related complications, number of ITU visits, number of organs supported and overall, LOS by IMD quintile.ConclusionsAlthough there was a significantly higher number of patients admitted to our unit with AP from the most socially deprived quintiles, there was no correlation between social economic deprivation and mortality following AP.
Does COVID-19 infection significantly affect liver transplantation? Results of liver transplantation in the COVID-19 era at a single, high-volume centre
Authors: Moradi Alimohammad , Hadizadeh Alireza , Ghiasvand Fereshte , Ahmadinejad Zahra , Toosi Mohsen Nasiri , Ghazi Samrand , Jafarian Ali , Ahmadi-Tafti Mohsen , Ayati Aryan 
Published: February 2023

BackgroundLiver transplantation is a proven management method for end-stage cirrhosis and is estimated to have increased life expectancy by 15 years. The COVID-19 pandemic posed a challenge to patients who were candid for a solid-organ transplant. It has been suggested that the outcomes of liver transplants could be adversely affected by the infection, as immunosuppression makes liver transplant candidates more susceptible to adverse effects while predisposing them to higher thrombotic events.Material and methodsIn this retrospective study, the cases who received liver transplants from January 2018 to March 2022 were assessed regarding early postoperative mortality rate and hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) with COVID-19 infection. This study included 614 cases, of which 48 patients were infected.ResultsThis study shows that the early COVID-19-related early postoperative mortality rates substantially increased in the elective setting (OR: 2.697), but the results for the acute liver failure were insignificant. The average model for end-stage liver disease score increased significantly during the pandemic due to new regulations. Although mortality rates increased during the pandemic, the data for the vaccination period show that mortality rates have equalised with the prepandemic era. Meanwhile, COVID-19 infection is assumed to have increased HAT by 1.6 times in the elective setting.ConclusionThis study shows that COVID-19 infection in an acute liver failure poses comparatively little risk; hence transplantation should be considered in such cases. Meanwhile, the hypercoagulative state induced by the infection predisposes this group of patients to higher HAT rates.
Phase 1 first-in-human study of dalutrafusp alfa, an anti–CD73-TGF-β-trap bifunctional antibody, in patients with advanced solid tumors
Authors: Tolcher Anthony W , Gordon Michael , Mahoney Kathleen M , Seto Anna , Zavodovskaya Marianna , Hsueh Chia-Hsiang , Zhai Shuyan , Tarnowski Thomas , Jürgensmeier Juliane M , Stinson Susanna , Othman Ahmed A , Chen Tianling , Strauss James 
Published: February 2023

BackgroundCluster of differentiation (CD)73-adenosine and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β pathways are involved in abrogated antitumor immune responses and can lead to protumor conditions. This Phase 1 study (NCT03954704) evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and efficacy of dalutrafusp alfa (also known as GS-1423 and AGEN1423), a bifunctional, humanized, aglycosylated immunoglobulin G1 kappa antibody that selectively inhibits CD73-adenosine production and neutralizes active TGF-β signaling in patients with advanced solid tumors.MethodsDose escalation started with an accelerated titration followed by a 3+3 design. Patients received dalutrafusp alfa (0.3, 1, 3, 10, 20, 30, or 45 mg/kg) intravenously every 2 weeks (Q2W) up to 1 year or until progressive disease (PD) or unacceptable toxicity.ResultsIn total, 21/22 patients received at least one dose of dalutrafusp alfa. The median number of dalutrafusp alfa doses administered was 3 (range 1–14). All patients had at least one adverse event (AE), most commonly fatigue (47.6%), nausea (33.3%), diarrhea (28.6%), and vomiting (28.6%). Nine (42.9%) patients had a Grade 3 or 4 AE; two had Grade 5 AEs of pulmonary embolism and PD, both unrelated to dalutrafusp alfa. Target-mediated drug disposition appears to be saturated at dalutrafusp alfa doses above 20 mg/kg. Complete CD73 target occupancy on B cells and CD8+ T cells was observed, and TGF-β 1/2/3 levels were undetectable at dalutrafusp alfa doses of 20 mg/kg and higher. Free soluble (s)CD73 levels and sCD73 activity increased with dalutrafusp alfa treatment. Seventeen patients reached the first response assessment, with complete response, partial response, stable disease, and PD in 0, 1 (4.8%), 7 (33.3%), and 9 (42.9%) patients, respectively.ConclusionsDalutrafusp alfa doses up to 45 mg/kg Q2W were well tolerated in patients with advanced solid tumors. Additional evaluation of dalutrafusp alfa could further elucidate the clinical utility of targeting CD73-adenosine and TGF-β pathways in oncology.
Progression from suspected to definite systemic sclerosis and the role of anti-topoisomerase I antibodies
Authors: Liem Sophie I E , Neppelenbroek Sam , Fehres Cynthia M , Wevers Brigitte A , Toes René E M , Allaart Cornelia F , Huizinga Tom W J , Scherer Hans Ulrich , De Vries-Bouwstra Jeska K 
Published: February 2023

IntroductionEarly diagnosis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) is important to start therapeutic interventions timely. Important risk factors for progression to SSc are the SSc-specific autoantibodies, of whom anti-centromere antibodies (ACA) and anti-topoisomerase I antibodies (ATA) are the most frequent. ATA is associated with a severe disease course. A more detailed characterisation of the ATA-response in SSc might increase insights in preclinical disease stages and improve prognostication. To address this we identified all patients with suspected very early ATA-positive SSc, defined as all patients who are ATA-positive not fulfilling American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) 2013 criteria, in the Leiden Combined Care in Systemic Sclerosis (CCISS)-cohort and found very low numbers.MethodsThis triggered us to search the literature on the ATA prevalence in patients with suspected very early SSc and contribution of the SSc-specific autoantibodies to progression from suspected very early to definite SSc. To increase insights on the ATA-response in suspected very early SSc, we then evaluated the association between the ATA-response and time between onset of Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) and first non-RP symptom, as a proxy for progressing to definite SSc, in all patients with ATA-positive SSc from the Leiden CCISS-cohort.ResultsIn short, included studies show that prevalence of ATA is much lower in suspected very early SSc than in populations fulfilling ACR/EULAR 2013 criteria. After 1–15 years of follow-up, only 52% of the patients with suspected very early SSc progress to definite SSc. ATA-IgG levels tend to be higher in patients with ATA-positive SSc with more rapid disease progression.ConclusionAlthough a role of ATA in disease progression is suggested, more studies on the ATA response in suspected very early SSc are warranted.
The carbon star mystery: 40 years later
Authors: Straniero Oscar , Abia Carlos , Domínguez Inma 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIn 1981 Icko Iben Jr published a paper entitled “The carbon star mystery: why do the low mass ones become such, and where have all the high mass ones gone?”, where he discussed the discrepancy between the theoretical expectation and its observational counterpart about the luminosity function of AGB carbon stars. After more than 40 years, our understanding of this longstanding problem is greatly improved, also thanks to more refined stellar models and a growing amount of observational constraints. In this paper we review the state of the art of these studies and we briefly illustrate the future perspectives.
Exploration of trace anomaly contribution to proton mass based on light vector meson photoproduction
Authors: Dong Chen , Zhang Jiyuan , Bu Jingxuan , Zhou Huifang , Wang Xiao-Yun 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIn the quantum chromodynamics, the mass source of the proton is decomposed into four parts by the energy momentum tensor: quark energy term, gluon energy term, quark mass term and trace anomaly term. And the trace anomaly term is the most crucial contribution for studying the internal structure of the proton. In this work, under the definition of the vector meson dominant model, the trace anomaly contribution of the proton is extracted from the experimental data of light vector mesons $$\rho $$
ρ
, $$\omega $$
ω
and $$\phi $$
ϕ
photoproduction at the near-threshold, which are ($$0.53\pm 0.15$$

0.53
±
0.15

)$$\%$$
%
, ($$1.47\pm 0.48$$

1.47
±
0.48

)$$\%$$
%
and ($$2.73\pm 0.54$$

2.73
±
0.54

)$$\%$$
%
, respectively. Further, combined with the results extracted from the heavy vector meson $$J/\psi $$

J
/
ψ

photoproduction, the distribution of the trace anomaly contribution with the vector meson mass is given for the first time. These results may provide important theoretical information for determining the range of the trace anomaly contribution and for further understanding the origin of the proton mass.
Quantum codes from constacyclic codes over $S_{k}$
Authors: Kong Bo , Zheng Xiying 
Published: February 2023

AbstractLet $S_{k}={\mathbb{F}}_{q}[u_{1},u_{2},\ldots ,u_{k}]/\langle u^{3}_{i}=u_{i},u_{i}u_{j}=u_{j}u_{i}=0 \rangle $

S
k

=

F
q

[

u
1

,

u
2

,
…
,

u
k

]
/
〈

u
i
3

=

u
i

,

u
i

u
j

=

u
j

u
i

=
0
〉
, where $1\leq i,j\leq k$
1
≤
i
,
j
≤
k
, $q=p^{m}$
q
=

p
m

, p is an odd prime. First, we define two new Gray maps $\phi _{k}$

ϕ
k

and $\varphi _{k}$

φ
k

, and study their Gray images. Further, we determine the structure of constacyclic codes and their dual codes, and give a necessary and sufficient conditions of constacyclic codes to contain their duals. Finally, we obtain some new quantum codes over $\mathbb{F}_{q}$

F
q

by using CSS construction, and compare the constructed codes better than the existing literature.
BOUNDED STRATEGIES FOR MAXIMIZING THE SHARPE RATIO
Authors: YE JIANG , WANG YIWEI , RAZA MUHAMMAD WAJID 
Published: February 2023

Bernard et al. [(2019) Optimal strategies under omega ratio, European Journal of Operational Research 275 (2), 755–767] use convex ordering arguments to determine the bounded payoff for maximizing the omega ratio. However, it appears difficult to apply such reasoning to estimate the bounded payoff for maximizing the Sharpe ratio. As a proposed solution, this paper uses a Lagrange multiplier method to derive the bounded payoff for maximizing the Sharpe ratio. In contrast to the optimal strategy in Bernard & Vanduffel [(2014) Mean–variance optimal portfolios in the presence of a benchmark with applications to fraud detection, European Journal of Operational Research 234 (2), 469–480], the optimal strategy in this paper is bounded from below. It can protect investors from substantial losses when they invest in payoffs with a maximized Sharpe ratio.