bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thermal Product Sensor: A potentially new diagnostic tool in the detection of skin malignancy
Authors: DeGiovanni C , Patel M , Drake Paul , Sains Parv , Chana Kam , Srid Vikram 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Skin cancer is currently a global public health problem that is escalating. In the UK, the incidence of malignant melanoma has increased from 837 per year to 6963 per year in males and 1609 per year to 6952 per year in females between 1981 and 2018. Early diagnosis and treatment, as with any other disease will have a positive outcome in terms of survival and costs of management. Advances in technology have allowed the development of tools that provide rapid and sensitive diagnosis of many diseases. This paper describes the development and use of a thermal based technique which directly measures the thermal properties of skin. The Thermal Product Sensor (TPS), a new biosensor, has been demonstrated in the diagnosis of skin malignancies. The technique is quantitative and is shown to distinguish between normal and malignant skin.
Effect of oral esketamine on preoperative sedation and venipuncture analgesia in pediatric patients: a prospective randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial
Authors: Liu Zunyuan , Wang Xuexia , Liu Lei , Xu Huiying , Liu Guoying , Wu Guisheng , Zhang Hongquan 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
Anxiety and uncooperation are common among pediatric patients during the preoperative preparation, which requires adequate and appropriate analgesia and sedation.
Methods
We performed a prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial involving 1–6-year-old pediatric patients scheduled for elective tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy between December 2020 and May 2021. Patients were randomly assigned to control (group C), esketamine 1 mg.kg− 1 (group EK1), or esketamine 2 mg.kg− 1 (group EK2) group. Venipuncture analgesia, cooperation, and sedation, as well as satisfaction upon parent–child separation, cooperation, sedation, and adverse events, were compared among the three groups. Dynamic changes in the sedation score and vital signs were monitored.
Results
A total of 88 pediatric patients were analyzed, with 29, 29, and 30 patients in groups C, EK1, and EK2, respectively. Compared with group C, groups EK1 and EK2 both had better analgesia during venipuncture (P < 0.001). In addition, better cooperation and sedation was noticed in groups EK1 and EK2 during parent–child separation and venipuncture than in group C. Compared with the baseline, the mean respiratory rate had a significant decrease from 25.6 ± 0.3 to 24.6 ± 0.4 breaths/min at 30 min after the esketamine administration in group EK2, although it was still within normal limits (P = 0.030). There were no significant differences in adverse events among three groups.
Conclusions
Preoperative oral administration of 1 or 2 mg.kg− 1 esketamine in pediatric patients could achieve effective analgesia and sedation. Oral medication of 2 mg.kg− 1 esketamine had more pronounced effects.
Trial registration
: This clinical trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000040739) on 08/12/2020.
Using spatial panel-data models to investigate the factors related to incidence of end-stage renal disease
Authors: Su Chien-Chou , Lee Kuo-Jung , Yen Chi-Tai , Wu Lu-Hsuan , Huang Chien-Huei , Lu Meng-Zhan , Cheng Ching-Lan 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
The assumptions of conventional spatial models cannot estimate the responses across space and over time. Spatial panel data models were proposed to investigate the association between the risk factors and incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
Methods
A longitudinal (panel data) study was conducted using data from the National Health Insurance Database in Taiwan. We set up an algorithm to identify the patient’s residence and estimate the ESRD rate in each township. Corresponding covariates, including patient comorbidities, history of medication use, and socio-environmental factors, were collected. Local Indicators of Spatial Association were used to describe local spatial clustering around an individual location. Moreover, a spatial panel data model was proposed to investigate the association between ESRD incidence and risk factors.
Results
In total, 73,995 patients with ESRD were included in this study. There was a higher proportion of high incidence rates in the western region than in the eastern region. The proportion of high incidence rates in the eastern areas increased over the years. It was found that most of “social environmental factors,” except average income and air pollution (PM 2.5 and PM10), had a significant influence on the incidence rate of ESRD when considering spatial dependences of response and explanatory variables. Receiving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and aminoglycosides within 90 days prior to ESRD had a significant positive effect on the ESRD incidence rate.
Conclusions
Future comprehensive studies on townships located in higher-risk clusters of ESRD will help in setting up healthcare policies for suitable action.
Randomized trials assessing the impact of flavors on pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and subjective parameters in dry and moist nicotine pouch products
Authors: Staaf Mikael , Masser Anna E. , Pramfalk Camilla , Pendrill Robert , Moses Sara , Lindholm Johan , Ljung Tryggve 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
The nicotine delivery profile of oral nicotine pouches (NPs) affects their abuse liability and ability to function as alternatives for users of riskier combustible products. However, it is unclear if flavors exert any effect on nicotine pharmacology. Here, data from two open-label, randomized, nine-way cross-over, single dose administration pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) studies of unflavored and flavored varieties of a dry 6 mg nicotine and a moist 9 mg nicotine NP product was analyzed. Maximum plasma concentrations of nicotine (Cmax) were observed ~ 1 h after NP administration, with overlapping mean values for the two products (13.02–15.95 ng/mL). The total nicotine exposure (AUCinf) was 44.65–54.53 h*ng/mL. Equivalence testing for AUCinf and Cmax between unflavored and flavored NP varieties showed equivalence for all varieties except NP moist D minty and NP moist H minty compared to NP moist A unflavored. Neither AUCinf, Cmax, or time to maximum nicotine concentration were affected by flavor. The effect of flavor was more pronounced for the moist product, where subjects rated the flavored varieties higher for satisfaction, product-liking, and intent to use again. Overall, large variations were seen between subjects in terms of flavor preferences, highlighting the requirement for multiple varieties and products.
Evidence for a metacognitive awareness of autobiographical memory organisation
Authors: Carreras Fabien , Moulin Chris J.A. 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Models of autobiographical memory (AM) recall posit some form of control process, but the extent to which we can reflect on this form of retrieval is under-researched. Here we propose a method for measuring such metacognitive awareness in AM. Since the verification of personal facts is difficult, we based our design on AM organisation. AMs are proposed to be organised into a coherent life story, that is, a subjective chronology reflecting the goals of the individual over time. We investigated the metacognitive awareness of this coherence. Eighty-three participants generated AMs and made two judgements of order for pairs of memories and gave a confidence rating. We found that participants were indeed able to distinguish pairs of memories that were coherent with their life story chronology from pairs which were not. We also found a significant effect of response time and task difficulty on confidence, suggesting that judgement of order fluency was determinant for metacognitive evaluation. This suggests common properties between metacognitive abilities related to autobiographical memory and those related to other forms of memory.
The Effects of Anodal tDCS Combined with a Selected Balance Exercise Program on Balance Performance and Working Memory in Older Adults
Authors: Mehrdadian Mehrshad , Saemi Esmaeel , Doustan Mohammadreza , Yamaguchi Tomofumi 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has recently drawn attention as an inexpensive, painless, safe, and effective technique to improve motor performance and cognitive function in older adults. This quasi-experimentstudy examined the effects of a selected balance exercise combined with anodal tDCS on balance performance in older adults.

Methods

Twenty-four older adults (Mean age M±SD= 69.79±5.50) participated in this study. The participants were randomly assigned into a real tDCS or sham tDCS groups. The participants in the real tDCS group received 2 mA anodal tDCS over the left primary motor cortex (M1) for 20 min. The participants performed a selected balance exercise program for 50 min following tDCS. Training was conducted 2 sessions per week for 8 weeks (16 sessions). Berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG) and working memory test (2-back task) were measured before (baseline), after 8 weeks of the training, and 4 weeks of follow-up.

Results

Compared to sham tDCS group, BBS and TUG were significantly improved in real tDCS group after the training and 4 weeks of follow-up, however, this intervention could not effect of working memory.

Conclusions

In sum, these results indicate that the selected balance exercise program combined with anodal tDCS can improve balance performance but not working memory in older adults.
Study of Toll -like Receptor 4 and Colony Stimulating Factor 2 Gene Expression for Early Recognition of Axial Spondyloarthritis Changes in Psoriatic cases.
Authors: Naidany Sherin S. EL , Shehata Wafaa A. , Saif Dalia S. , El-Hefnawy Sally M. , Ellaithy Manal Abd El Monem 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
About 30% of cases with psoriasis will suffer from psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Heritable element plays a role in PsA as different genes are involved. However, few genes are involved in both psoriasis and PsA. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and colony stimulating factor (CSF) 2 gene expression for early detection of axial spondyloarthritis in psoriatic patients.
Methods
This study included 200 subjects; 100 psoriatic patients, subdivided into two groups; Group 1: included 66 patients with plaque psoriasis without any articular complaint, and Group 2: included 44 patients with psoriatic arthritis. Group 3 included: 100 age and sex matched healthy controls. Laboratory assessment of TLR4 and CSF2 gene expression by real time polymerase chain reaction technique, and axial joint radiological assessment by Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Results
There were significant increase of CSF2 and TLR4 gene expression levels in cases compared with controls (p < 0.001) for both. Additionally, a significant rise of CSF2 and TLR4 gene expression levels in cases with psoriatic arthritis compared to cases with psoriatic skin affection only (U = 2.45, p = 0.01, 3.34, p = 0.001 respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curve done for earlier detection of sub-clinical changes of axSpA regarding positive MRI results in cases with psoriasis and PsA respectively with P value < 0.001.
Conclusion
TLR4 and CSF2 gene expression have strong predictive value in early detection of axial SpA changes in asymptomatic and non-radiographic psoriatic patients which is equivalent and equal to the MRI predictive value.
Naked-eye observation of water-forming reaction on palladium etalon: transduction of gas-matter reaction into light-matter interaction
Authors: Lee Jongsu , Yu Eui-Sang , Kim Taehyun , Kim In Soo , Kwak Jeonghun , Lee Sin-Doo , Chung Seok , Kwak Seung Jae , Lee Won Bo , Pak Yusin , Ryu Yong-Sang 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Palladium is the most prominent material in both scientific and industrial research on gas storage, purification, detection, and catalysis due to its unique properties as a catalyst and hydrogen absorber. Advancing the plasmonic optical phenomena of palladium reacting with hydrogen, transduction of the gas-matter reaction into light-matter interaction is attempted to visualize the dynamic surface chemistry and reaction behaviors. The simple geometry of the metal-dielectric-metal structure, Fabry-Perot etalon, is employed for a colorimetric reactor, to display the catalytic reaction of the exposed gas via water-film/bubble formation at the dielectric/palladium interface. The adsorption/desorption behavior and catalytic reaction of hydrogen and oxygen on the palladium surface display highly repeatable and dramatic color changes based on two distinct water formation trends: the foggy effect by water bubbles and the whiteout effect by water film formation. Simulations and experiments demonstrate the robustness of the proposed Fabry-Perot etalon as an excellent platform for monitoring the opto-physical phenomena driven by heterogeneous catalysis.
Creating zero amylose barley with high soluble sugar content by genome editing
Authors: li Yun , Jiang Yanyan , Cao Dong , Dang Bin , Yang Xijuan , Fan Shiting , shen Yuhu , Li Genying , Liu Baolong 
Published: December 2022

Abstract

Amylose biosynthesis is strictly associated with granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI) encoded by the Waxy gene. Mutagenesis of single bases in the Waxy gene, which induced by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, caused absence of intact GBSSI protein in grain of the edited line. Consequently, B-type granules disappeared. The amylose and amylopectin contents of waxy mutants were zero and 31.73%, while those in the wild type were 33.50% and 39.00%, respectively. The absence of waxy protein led to increase in soluble sugar content to 37.30% compared with only 10.0% in the wild type. Sucrose and β-glucan, were 39.16% and 35.40% higher in waxy mutants than in the wild type, respectively. Transcriptome analysis identified differences between the wild type and waxy mutants that could partly explain the reduction in amylose and amylopectin contents and the increase in soluble sugar, sucrose and β-glucan contents. This waxy flour, which showed lower final viscosity and setback, and higher breakdown, could provide more option for food processing.
Ecofriendly Camouflage Textiles with Natural Sand-based Silicon Dioxide against Simultaneous Combat Background of Woodland, Desertland, Rockland, Concreteland and Water/Marine
Authors: Hossain Md. Anowar 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Natural sand-based silicon dioxide (NSSD) is a common material of multidimensional combat backgrounds (CBs) such as dry leaves/wood, green leaves, tree bark-woodland CB; water-marine CB; sand-desertland CB; rock-rockland CB and concrete-concreteland CB. NSSD was coated, printed and padded on polyamide-6,6 (PA-6,6) and cotton fabric for camouflage textiles. The camouflage properties of coated, printed and padded fabric in visible wavelength, 400–700 nm were investigated by International Commission on Illumination (CIE)-color value (L*, a*, b*), Kubelka-Munk (K-M) reflection, reflection (%) and color rendering techniques of color measurement spectrophotometer. The structural properties versus electron imaging were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Field trialling of NSSD treated camouflage textiles was investigated by visible imaging under natural illumination, sunlight. The adaptive properties for CIE-chromatic appearance (red, green, blue, L*, a*, b*) of NSSD formulated fabric was analyzed by ImageJ software. This optical assessment of ecofriendly NSSD-camouflage material relates to camouflage signature management for defence threat protection against five-dimensional combat background such as desertland, woodland, rockland, concreteland and water/marine.
Risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes in obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome
Authors: Li Shanshan , Xiao Yang , Wang chunyan , Zhao Jie , Zhang Na , Yin Yue , Qin Li , Jia Mei , Cui Liyan 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) causes adverse obstetric outcomes in the affected patients. Our study aimed to investigate the risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) in women with APS.
Methods: This retrospective study included 143 pregnant women with APS admitted to Peking University People’s Hospital. Based on the presence of APOs, pregnant women were divided into the adverse outcomes group (n=49) and the non-adverse outcomes group (n=94). Clinical data were extracted from medical records. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the risk factors associated with APOs.
Results: We found that the low platelet count (≤50×109/L), hypertension during pregnancy, and single-positivity of antiphospholipid antibody (aPLs) were the risk factors of APOs after adjusting age, the number of prior spontaneous miscarriages, weight change during pregnancy, gestational diabetes, thrombosis, oligohydramnios, and aPLs status (model I). Of importance, hypertension during pregnancy and single-positivity of aPLs remained the risk factors for adverse outcomes, but the low platelet count (≤50×109/L) was no longer a risk factor after adding the adjustments of the time of diagnosis and treatment during pregnancy (model II). And the number of platelets increased after delivery under the treatment (87.53±49.81 vs. 65.06±41.3 vs. 52.75±20.70 vs. 110.19±55.30; p<0.05). Therefore, treatment could effectively decrease the risk of adverse outcomes in pregnant APS patients with thrombocytopenia.
Conclusion: APS increases the risk of adverse outcomes during pregnancy. Thrombocytopenia, hypertension during pregnancy, and single-positivity of aPLs were the risk factors of APOs in women with APS. Treatment can significantly reduce the risk of adverse outcomes by upregulating platelet count during pregnancy in APS patients with thrombocytopenia.
Mutual Pathways between Peer and Own E-Cigarette Use among Youth in The United States: A Cross-Lagged Model
Authors: Cheng Hui G. , Lizhnyak Pavel N. , Richter Nadja 
Published: December 2022

Abstract

Background Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have become the most common tobacco product used among adolescents in the United States (US). Prior research has shown that peer e-cigarette use was associated with increased risk of own e-cigarette use. Nonetheless, there is little empirical evidence on the directionality of these associations - if peer use predicts own use (peer influence) or if own use predicts peer use (peer selection). Methods We estimated the association between peer and own e-cigarette use among US adolescents 12–17 years of age. We used the fixed-effects model to hold constant observed and unobserved time-invariant variables and the cross-lagged model to investigate the mutual relationship between peer and own e-cigarette use over time using data from a population-based longitudinal study, Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health. Stratified analyses were conducted by sex and age subgroups. Results Having best friends who use e-cigarettes was strongly associated with the use of e-cigarettes among adolescents (OR = 17.5; 95% CI = 15.1 to 20.3 for 12–17-year-olds). This association weakened but remained statistically significant when time-invariant variables were controlled for using fixed-effect model (OR = 4.8; 95% CI = 4.0 to 5.6). Results from cross-lagged model showed a statistically significant predicting path leading from peer use at the prior time point to own use at the following time point, but not vice versa. Conclusions We found strong relationships between peer e-cigarette use and own e-cigarette use at both between- and within-individual levels. Peer influence paths were more robust than peer selection paths for e-cigarette use. Incorporating peers into prevention and intervention programs may help enhance these strategies.
Brain tumor MRI Classification using a Novel Deep Residual and Regional CNN
Authors: Zahoor Mirza Mumtaz , Khan Saddam Hussain , Sadiq Muhammad , Liang Junwei , Hassnain Syed Agha 
Published: December 2022

Abstract

Brain tumor classification is crucial for clinical analysis and an effective treatment plan to cure patients. Deep learning models help radiologists to accurately and efficiently analyze tumors without manual intervention. However, brain tumor analysis is challenging because of its complex structure, texture, size, location, and appearance. Therefore, a novel deep residual and regional-based Res-BRNet Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is developed for effective brain tumor Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) classification. The developed Res-BRNet employed Regional and boundary-based operations in a systematic order within the modified spatial and residual blocks. Spatial blocks extract the brain tumor’s homogeneity and heterogeneity patterns, and boundary-related features. Additionally, the residual blocks significantly capture local and global texture variations of brain tumors. The efficiency of the developed Res-BRNet is evaluated on a standard dataset; collected from Kaggle and Figshare containing various tumor categories, including meningioma, glioma, pituitary, and healthy images. Experiments prove that the developed Res-BRNet outperforms the standard CNN models and attained excellent performances (accuracy: 98.22%, sensitivity: 0.9811, F1-score: 0.9841, and precision: 0.9822) on challenging datasets. Additionally, the performance of the proposed Res-BRNet indicates a strong potential for medical image-based disease analyses.
Investigation of natural hazard related to mass movements in the Boi River basin, southern Brazil, with SHALSTAB and Hyper KANAKO.
Authors: Franck Alessandro Gustavo , Kobiyama Masato 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Extreme rainfall events have been more frequent, resulting in an increase in potentially catastrophic natural phenomena such as landslides and debris flows. To reduce disaster risk related, the hazard mapping for these phenomena is essential. Therefore, the objective of this study was (i) characterize geotechnical units with field survey in a mountain basin, southern Brazil; (ii) apply the combination of the SHALSTAB and Hyper KANAKO models to the basin; (iii) perform a hazard mapping to landslides and debris flows; and (iv) understand better these phenomena. The study area is the Boi River basin at the Caminhos dos Cânions do Sul Geopark, which is a part of the largest canyon chain in South America. The simulated scenarios showed that the occurrence of debris flows in the region represents a real danger for tourists and residents, with locations where these phenomena reach the trails with speeds greater than 50 km.h-1 and depths greater than 5 m.