bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Viral hepatitis is associated with increased risk of decompensated cirrhosis or liver failure in patients positive for liver cytosol antibody type 1
Authors: Wang Rong , Jing Keying , Liu Yang , Zhao Huijuan , Cai Jun 
Published: May 2023

AbstractLiver cytosol antibody type 1 (anti‐LC1) is reported to be a marker of type 2 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), a type of autoimmune liver disease (AILD). However, anti‐LC1 is not entirely disease‐specific, and its clinical value in other hepatic diseases has not been well elucidated. Our study aimed to explore the associations between the diagnoses and outcome of decompensated cirrhosis or liver failure (DC/LF) in patients positive for anti‐LC1. A total of 157 patients positive for anti‐LC1 were included in our final analysis. DC/LF was defined as the outcome of patients positive for anti‐LC1. The risk of DC/LF according to diagnosis was estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models, while stratified Cox regression models were used in the subgroup analyses. The diagnoses of patients positive for anti‐LC1 were found to be comprised of various liver disorders. Versus other diagnoses, viral hepatitis was associated with a 2.25‐fold increased risk of DC/LF in these patients, independent of sex, age, disease course, treatment and drinking history. Additionally, the associations were more significant by subgroup analysis in male patients, younger patients, non‐newly diagnosed patients, patients without treatment and patients without drinking history. Anti‐LC1 is not a disease‐specific antibody, as it was found in multiple types of hepatic disease. Furthermore, viral hepatitis rather than AILD was associated with an increased risk of DC/LF in patients positive for anti‐LC1. These findings emphasize the important role of viral hepatitis in the progression of DC/LF in patients positive for anti‐LC1.
Monitoring disease activity in antineutrophil antibody‐associated vasculitis
Authors: Scurt Florian G. , Hirschfeld Verena , Schubert Leon , Mertens Peter R. , Chatzikyrkou Christos 
Published: May 2023

AbstractAntineutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)–associated vasculitis (AAV) comprises a group of multisystem disorders with alternating periods of relapse and remission. Beyond that, a smouldering progress during apparently clinically silent phases often develops. AAVs are subgrouped in microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) and renal limited vasculitis (RLV). ANCA are hallmark of this disease entity, although they are not always present. Despite the simplification of treatment, fundamental aspects concerning assessment of its efficacy and its adaptation to encountered complications or to the relapsing/remitting/subclinical disease course remain still unknown. Through the advances in pathogenesis and pathophysiology of AAV a reliable biomarker‐based monitoring and treatment algorithm has not been established and disease management follows not infrequently a “trial and error” approach. Here, we overviewed the most interesting biomarkers reported so far.
The impact of universal credit rollout on homelessness assistance need in Scottish local authorities
Authors: Hardie Iain 
Published: May 2023

AbstractSince 2013, the Universal Credit (UC) welfare reform has been rolling out gradually to overhaul the means‐tested social security system for working‐age people in low‐income households in the United Kingdom. Existing research suggests that UC has had a detrimental impact on the housing security of claimants, with evidence of increases in rent arrears and landlord repossession actions as the reform has been rolled out. However, there is currently a lack of evidence on the impact of UC rollout on the most extreme form of housing insecurity—homelessness. This article addresses this gap in knowledge, using Scottish local authority level data obtained from the Scottish Government on monthly rates of Housing Options approaches and statutory homelessness claims, which is linked to data on the timing of UC rollout within local authorities. The staggered nature of UC rollout (i.e., the fact that it rolled out in different local authorities at different times) is exploited in order to measure its impact within 29 Scottish local authorities using fixed effects regression modelling. The results suggest that UC ‘Full Service’ rollout, up to March 2019, was associated with increases in Housing Options approach rates, but there was not clear evidence of an increase in rates of working‐age statutory homelessness claims. Redesigning UC to increase its standard allowance and address its long wait periods and harsh sanctions would likely help to protect the housing security of claimants.
A graph‐based method for Chinese address matching
Authors: Liu Cheng , He Xinyang , Su Shiliang , Kang Mengjun 
Published: May 2023

AbstractAddress matching is a substantial task in location‐based services. Currently, major address matching methods either perform rather badly on unstructured data or fail to extract adequate semantic information of address elements. In this article, we propose a graph‐based method that can deal with both sides of the problem. First, we use a pretrained transformer neural network to handle address tokenization. Then we parse address tokens into address elements according to their parts of speech. Then the node2vec and tf‐idf technique is used to generate node embeddings for each address element. Finally, an address matching graph convolutional network is applied to do the address matching work. We have carried out a series of experiments on a real‐world Chinese address corpus, to further evaluate the impacts of our methods. The experimental results indicate our method achieves higher scores than the state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Animal injury characteristics following the 2020 ammonium nitrate explosion in the Port of Beirut
Authors: Mansour Hana A. , Jawhary Khalil El , Chaaban Ihab , Hemadeh Ali , Tarek Chadi , Yehia Maher , Hassan Nidal , Hosri Joseph , Mansour Ahmad M. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractPurposeTo describe the characteristics and veterinary management of animal casualties after an ammonium nitrate explosion in the Port of Beirut.MethodsRetrospective evaluation of medical records from multiple veterinary organizations.ResultsVeterinary care was administered to 298 cats and 103 dogs, with 101 animals (25%) undergoing surgical procedures under general anesthesia. Glass injuries prevailed, with suturing performed in 98 animals (24.4%). Surgery was used to treat 31 animals (7.7%) with extremity fractures and 52 animals with tendon injuries (13.3%). Bodily burns were encountered in 19 animals (4.7%). Six animals (1.5%) lost their hearing entirely, while another 6 (1.5%) lost an eye.ConclusionThe joint coordinated work of veterinary groups and nongovernmental animal organizations reduced the number of injured animal fatalities. Of animals documented as having undergone treatment, 355 (88.5%) survived their initial injury assessment, and 46 (11.5%) died.
Bioinspired Fiber Networks With Tunable Mechanical Properties by Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Sarkar Mainak , Notbohm Jacob 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Soft bioinspired fiber networks offer great potential in biomedical engineering and material design due to their adjustable mechanical behaviors. However, existing strategies to integrate modeling and manufacturing of bioinspired networks do not consider the intrinsic microstructural disorder of biopolymer networks, which limits the ability to tune their mechanical properties. To fill in this gap, we developed a method to generate computer models of aperiodic fiber networks mimicking type I collagen ready to be submitted for additive manufacturing. The models of fiber networks were created in a scripting language wherein key geometric features like connectivity, fiber length, and fiber cross section could be easily tuned to achieve desired mechanical behavior, namely, pretension-induced shear stiffening. The stiffening was first predicted using finite element software, and then a representative network was fabricated using a commercial 3D printer based on digital light processing technology using a soft resin. The stiffening response of the fabricated network was verified experimentally on a novel test device capable of testing the shear stiffness of the specimen under varying levels of uniaxial pretension. The resulting data demonstrated clear pretension-induced stiffening in shear in the fabricated network, with uniaxial pretension of 40% resulting in a factor of 2.65 increase in the small strain shear stiffness. The strategy described in this article addresses current challenges in modeling bioinspired fiber networks and can be readily integrated with advances in fabrication technology to fabricate materials truly replicating the mechanical response of biopolymer networks.
Condition Monitoring of Nuclear Equipment-Piping Systems Subjected to Normal Operating Loads Using Deep Neural Networks
Authors: Sandhu Harleen Kaur , Bodda Saran Srikanth , Sauers Serena , Gupta Abhinav 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Various fields in engineering explore the applicability of deep learning within condition monitoring. With the resurgence of nuclear energy due to electricity and carbon-free power generation demand, ensuring safe operations at nuclear power plants is important. Nuclear safety systems can undergo vibrations due to operating loads such as pump operations, flow-induced, etc. Safety equipment-piping systems experience degradation over the course of time due to flow-accelerated erosion and corrosion. Undetected degradation at certain locations can be subjected to a buildup of cyclic fatigue due to operational vibrations and thermal cycles. A condition monitoring framework is required to avoid fatigue cracking and for early detection of degraded locations along with the severity of degradation. This study aims to propose a condition monitoring methodology for nuclear equipment-piping subject to pump-induced vibrations during normal operations by designing a novel feature extraction technique, exploring parameters and developing a deep neural network, incorporating uncertainty in degradation severity, conducting a thorough investigation of predicted results to analyze erroneous predictions, and proposing strategic recommendations for “safe” pump operating speeds, as per ASME design criteria. Even with nondestructive testing, the detection of fatigue in pipes continues to be a difficult problem. Thus, this novel strategic recommendation to the operator can be beneficial in avoiding fatigue in piping systems due to pump-induced vibrations. The effectiveness of the proposed framework is demonstrated on a Z-piping system connected to an auxiliary pump from the Experimental Breeder Reactor II nuclear reactor and a high prediction accuracy is achieved.
Charge separation in the photosystem II reaction center resolved by multispectral two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy
Authors: Nguyen Hoang H. , Song Yin , Maret Elizabeth L. , Silori Yogita , Willow Rhiannon , Yocum Charles F. , Ogilvie Jennifer P. 
Published: May 2023

The photosystem II reaction center (PSII RC) performs the primary energy conversion steps of oxygenic photosynthesis. While the PSII RC has been studied extensively, the similar time scales of energy transfer and charge separation and the severely overlapping pigment transitions in the Q
y
region have led to multiple models of its charge separation mechanism and excitonic structure. Here, we combine two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES) with a continuum probe and two-dimensional electronic vibrational spectroscopy (2DEV) to study the cyt b559-D1D2 PSII RC at 77 K. This multispectral combination correlates the overlapping Q
y
excitons with distinct anion and pigment-specific Q
x
and mid-infrared transitions to resolve the charge separation mechanism and excitonic structure. Through extensive simultaneous analysis of the multispectral 2D data, we find that charge separation proceeds on multiple time scales from a delocalized excited state via a single pathway in which Pheo
D1
is the primary electron acceptor, while Chl
D1
and P
D1
act in concert as the primary electron donor.
Possible role for IL-40 and IL-40-producing cells in the lymphocytic infiltrated salivary glands of patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome
Authors: Guggino Giuliana , Rizzo Chiara , Mohammadnezhad Leila , Lo Pizzo Marianna , Lentini Vincenzo Luca , Di Liberto Diana , La Barbera Lidia , Raimondo Stefania , Shekarkar Azgomi Mojtaba , Urzì Ornella , Berardicurti Onorina , Campisi Giuseppina , Alessandro Riccardo , Giacomelli Roberto , Dieli Francesco , Ciccia Francesco 
Published: May 2023

ObjectivesAim of this study was to investigate the expression of interleukin (IL)-40, a new cytokine associated with B cells homoeostasis and immune response, in primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) and in pSS-associated lymphomas.Methods29 patients with pSS and 24 controls were enrolled. Minor salivary gland (MSG) biopsies from patients, controls and parotid gland biopsies from pSS-associated lymphoma were obtained. Quantitative gene expression analysis by TaqMan real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry for IL-40 were performed on MSG. MSG cellular sources of IL-40 were determined by flow-cytometry and immunofluorescence. Serum concentration of IL-40 was assessed by ELISA and cellular sources of IL-40 were determined by flow-cytometry. An in vitro assay with recombinant IL-40 (rIL-40) was performed to detect the effect on cytokine production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).ResultsIL-40 was significantly increased in the lymphocytic infiltrated MSG of patients with pSS and correlated with focus score and with IL-4 and transforming growth factor-β expression. In addition, IL-40 was increased in the serum of pSS and its levels correlated with the EULAR Sjögren’s Syndrome Disease Activity Index score. B cells from patients were shown to be the major source of IL-40 at both tissue and peripheral level. PBMCs from patients, exposed to rIL-40 in vitro, released proinflammatory cytokines, specifically interferon-γ from B cells and T-CD8+and tumour necrosis factor-α and IL-17 from both T-CD4+and T-CD8+. IL-40 expression in parotid glands of pSS-associated lymphomas was also increased. Moreover, IL-40-driven NETosis was evidenced in neutrophils obtained from pSS.ConclusionOur results suggest that IL-40 may play a role in pSS pathogenesis and pSS-associated lymphomas.
Determination of standardized ileal digestibility of crude protein and amino acids and digestible indispensable amino acid score of faba beans, lentils, and yellow peas fed to growing pigs
Authors: Cargo-Froom C.L. , Tansil F. , Columbus D.A. , Marinangeli C.P.F. , Kiarie E.G. , Shoveller A.K. 
Published: May 2023

The objective of this study was to determine the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of protein and amino acids (AA) and calculate the digestible indispensable AA score (DIAAS) of three varieties of Canadian grown pulses (faba bean, lentil, and yellow pea). Three steam-pelleted (80 °C) diets (faba/lentil/pea; 40% inclusion) and a nitrogen-free diet were fed to eight cannulated growing pigs in a 4 × 4 replicated Latin square design. The SID values were used to calculate DIAAS. There were no differences in SID of protein and AA when all diets were compared ( P > 0.05). The SID of methionine was 95% for faba beans, 96% for lentils, and 96% for peas. The SID of lysine was 93% for faba beans, 92% for lentils, and 90% for peas. Tryptophan had the lowest SID across all indispensable AA of all pulses (59% faba, 61% lentil, and 41% pea). All other indispensable AA SID were above 80%. Tryptophan was the limiting indispensable AA for all pulses as determined by DIAAS, with scores of 30 (faba), 57.83 (lentil), and 27.27 (pea). These values will aid in optimal inclusion of steam-pelleted pulses in diets for swine and provide an insight on the protein quality of pulses for humans.
DISTAL RADIOULNAR JOINT DYSFUNCTION FOLLOWING CONSERVATIVELY TREATED DISTAL RADIUS FRACTURE
Authors: Dawood Alaa A. , Mahmood Hayder M. , Hannon Maytham K. 
Published: April 2023

Background: Distal radius fractures (DRFs) are frequent and often complicated by distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) dysfunction which may pass unnoticed at the outset leading to adverse effects on the hand function. This study aims to detect clinical and radiological features suggestive of DRUJ dysfunction and its functional effects in conservatively treated DRF. Methods: Retrospective observational study including 43 patients with healed conservatively treated DRF were studied for features of DRUJ dysfunctions. Patients’ demographic, clinical and radiological data were examined and compared to those of contralateral uninjured wrist. Computerized tomography (CT) scan examination to assess DRUJ congruency and instability was done for all cases. Correlation between clinical features suggesting DRUJ dysfunction with radiological parameters, CT findings and functional outcome was done using quick DASH score. Results: There is significant reduction of extension, supination and radial deviation with a significantly higher (visual analogue scale (VAS)) and (DASH) scores in the injured wrist as compared with contralateral side. Clinical examination of the DRUJ in 43 DRF showed that 13 (30.2 %) have ulnar sided tenderness and four (9.3%) have positive ulnar abutment test with significantly higher pain and disability scores and six patients (13.9%) have positive piano key sign with significant pain score only. Ulnar abutment test also significantly is related to radiological findings. CT scan examination of the DRUJ showed 21 cases (48.8%) with DRUJ incongruence, which is significantly correlated to ulnar abutment test, piano key sign, diminished mean radial height and higher ulnar variance. Conclusion: Conservatively treated DRF with clinical features of DRUJ dysfunction shows a lower functional outcome with increased ulnar variance and decreased radial height. DRUJ incongruence and instability on CT scan was significantly associated with clinical signs, diminished mean radial height and higher ulnar variance.
Clinical and Radiological Outcome of Osteoscopic-Assisted Treatment of Enchondroma in Hand with Artificial Bone Substitute or Bone Graft: A 7-Year Case Series and Literature Review
Authors: YUNG Wai Tat Bernard , KOO Siu Cheong Jeffrey Justin , MAK Chu Kay Michael , YU Wai Ping Fiona , TSE Wing Lim , HO Pak Cheong 
Published: April 2023

Background: This study aims to look at the intermediate-term clinical, functional and radiological outcomes of patients with enchondroma in hand treated with osteoscopic-assisted curettage and artificial bone substitute or bone graft. The addition of osteoscopy allows direct visualisation of the bone cavity during and after curettage of tumour tissue without the need of creating a large opening in the bone cortex. This could lead to better clearance of tumour tissue and lower risk of iatrogenic fracture. Methods: A total of 11 patients who received surgery from December 2013 to November 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. All cases had histological diagnosis of enchondroma. Patients with a follow-up period of less than 3 months were excluded. The mean duration of follow-up was 20.9 months. For the clinical outcome, we measured the total active motion (TAM) and graded with Belsky score grip strength. For the functional outcome, the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire (QuickDASH) score was used. For the radiological outcome, we evaluated the X-ray for bone cavity filling defect, new bone formation according to the system proposed by Tordai. Results: The mean TAM of patients was 257º. A total of 60% patients had Belsky score grading excellent, 40% patients had Belsky score grading good. The mean percentage of grip strength compared with the contralateral side was 86.2%. The mean QuickDASH score was 7.7. For the wound aesthetic rating by patients, 81.8% patients reported as excellent. For the radiological outcome, the postoperative X-ray of all patients showed bone filling defect less than 3 mm. The mean time to complete bone consolidation was 3.8 months. None of the patients showed any radiological signs of recurrence. Conclusions: Our study showed that patients with enchondromas in hand treated with this minimally invasive method demonstrated good functional and radiological outcome. Its application may also be extended into treating other benign bone lesions in hand. Level of Evidence: Level IV (Therapeutic)
Single-Centre Experience Regarding the Use of Fibular Graft for Reconstruction after Resection of Grade III GCT of Distal Radius
Authors: SAHITO Badaruddin , ALI Sheikh Muhammad Ebad , SUKAINA Mahnoor , SHAHID Shehroz , HUSSAIN Nauman , KATTO Muhammad Soughat 
Published: April 2023

Background: A giant cell tumour (GCT) is a locally invasive benign tumour of bone in young adults. Treatment includes surgical resection as first-line or denosumab pharmacotherapy in inoperable patients. However, surgical resection of distal radius GCT has produced debatable functional outcomes. Here we study the use of fibular grafts for reconstruction of surgically resected GCT of the distal radius. Methods: A total of 11 patients having Grade III GCT of the distal radius were recruited for a retrospective single-centred study. Five underwent arthrodesis with fibular shaft graft and six received arthroplasty with the proximal fibula. Functional outcomes at 6 weeks, 6 and 12 months were measured by Mayo wrist score (MWS) (>51% = good) and Revised Musculoskeletal tumor society (MSTS) score (>15 = good). Results: At 6 weeks, mean MSTS score and MWS were 23.64 and 58.64% respectively, and the length of the fibular graft was a predictor for both MSTS score (p = 0.014) and MWS (p = 0.006). At 6 months, the mean MSTS and MWS were 26.36 and 76.82%, respectively. At 6 months, the surgical procedure was a predictor in MSTS score (p = 0.02) while MWS was predicted by length of graft (p = 0.02). At 12 months, MSTS score was 28.73, and MWS remained 91.82%. Length of the fibular graft was an insignificant predictor, but a significant risk factor was surgical procedure for MWS (p = 0.04) at 12 months. No variable was found significant for MSTS score. Conclusions: Resection along with reconstruction of Grade III GCT of the radius with fibular graft was found an optimal treatment option. Also, use of the fibular head grafts and shorter length grafts are predictors for better outcomes after surgery. Level of Evidence: Level IV (Therapeutic)
Cutaneous Cryptococcus Infection and Suspected Kaposi Sarcoma of the Hand in an Immunocompromised Patient
Authors: BECKER Jacob , WOLDE-SEMAIT Henock , WOLLSTEIN Ronit 
Published: April 2023

Cryptococcal infection is well-documented in immunocompromised individuals. Cutaneous manifestations are not as common and are often difficult to diagnose due to variable presentations. Furthermore, there have been reports of coexisting cutaneous Cryptococcus and malignancy. We describe a patient that presented with a fast-growing mass (suspected sarcoma) in the hand that was ultimately treated for a Cryptococcus skin infection. We believe familiarity with the possibility of coexistence of these two conditions in an immunocompromised host could have brought about earlier diagnosis and possibly more effective treatment. Level of Evidence: Level V (Therapeutic)