bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effects of grain size and temperature on mechanical properties of CoCrNi medium-entropy alloy
Authors: Zhang Can , Han Ben , Shi Mingxing 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
In this paper, the molecular dynamics method was used to analyze mechanical properties and microscopic deformation mechanisms of CoCrNi medium-entropy alloy with different average grain sizes at various temperatures. Its elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio were first calculated by the constant pressure molecular dynamics method. It is found that the elastic modulus increases with the average grain size increasing and is reduced at elevated temperatures. However, its Poisson's ratio decreases with the average grain size increasing and is not sensitive to temperatures. Simulations of simple tension were carried out and the results show that: (1) when the average grain size exceeds 15.2 nm, its yield stress and maximum flow stress decreased with the average grain size raising (Hall-Petch relationship), in this situation it is speculated that the dislocation slips and deformation twins within the grains dominate the plastic deformation; (2) when the grain size is smaller than 15.2 nm, the two stress parameters instead increase with the average grain size increasing (Inverse Hall-Petch relationship), such a plastic deformation mechanism is understood mainly due to grain boundaries migrations and grain rotations. In the end, as temperature effects on microscopic deformation mechanisms are concerned, it is found that more dislocations tend to be plugged near grain boundaries which have lower mobility at lower temperatures. Accordingly, the two stress parameters increase as the temperature decreases.
Evaluation of epigenetic methylation biomarkers for the detection of colorectal cancer using droplet digital PCR
Authors: Petit Joel , Carroll Georgia , Zhao Jie , Roper Ellise , Pockney Peter , Scott R. J. 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. Screening programs allow early diagnosis and have improved the clinical management of this disease. Aberrant DNA methylation is increasingly being explored as potential biomarkers for many types of cancers. In this study we investigate the methylation of ten target genes in 105 CRC and paired normal adjacent tissue samples using a MethylLight droplet digital PCR (ML-ddPCR) assay. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the diagnostic performance of all target genes individually and in combination. All 515 different combinations of genes showed significantly higher levels of methylation in CRC tissue. The combination of multiple target genes into a single test generally resulted in greater diagnostic accuracy when compared to single target genes. Our data indicates that aberrant DNA methylation in a specific selection of target genes illustrates very strong potential for use as a screening marker for CRC.
Stimulus-induced drift inhibition revealed by retinal eye-tracking
Authors: Ziv Inbal , Meina Michał , Tamborski Szymon , Gorgol Joanna , Szkulmowski Maciej , Bonneh Yoram 
Published: November 2022

Abstract

It is now well established that the movement of the eyes, which occurs constantly even during fixation, tends to “freeze” in response to perceptual events, with a magnitude and time course that depends on the stimulus properties, attention, and anticipation. This “freeze” or oculomotor inhibition (OMI) was found for microsaccades, blinks, smooth-pursuit, and catch-up saccades; yet remains unclear whether it also applies to ocular drift. Since video-based eye-trackers are known to produce positional artifacts, we used here data from a high-speed and precision retinal imaging eye-tracker (FreezEye Tracker, FET). The observers (n = 15) watched a series of flashed Gabor patches, with different spatial frequency and contrast while their eyes were tracked. We analyzed the data by removing the saccades, aligning the traces, and computing four drift measures relative to the stimulus onset: (1) velocity, (2) area, (3) diffusion, and (4) heat map. We found that all measures produced a highly significant modulation over time. The overall drift velocity, area, and diffusion followed the microsaccade inhibition pattern, whereas the heat map peaks showed the opposite pattern. The drift inhibition was also stimulus dependent, showing shorter onset and prolonged release estimates for more salient stimuli, matching the microsaccade OMI for the onset but showing the opposite for the release. Overall, the results confirm that the oculomotor inhibition effect can be generalized for ocular drift, but its opposite stimulus dependency for inhibition release and the shifted time course may suggest a complex interdependency between drift and saccades.
Urinary Eubacterium sp. CAG:581 promotes non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) development through ECM1/MMP9 pathway
Authors: Zhang Yu-hang , Wang Wenyu , Zhao Gang , Cui Yimin 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Background: Increasing evidence points to the urinarymicrobiota as a possible key susceptibility factor for early-stage bladder cancer(BCa) progression. However, its underlying mechanism interpretation is often insufficient, given that various environmental conditions have affected the composition of urinary microbiota. Herein, we sought to rule out confounding factors and clarify how urinary Eubacterium sp. CAG:581 promoted non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) development.
Methods: Differentially abundant urinary microbiota of 51 NMIBC patients and 47 healthy controls as the Cohort 1 were firstly determined by metagenomics analysis. Then we modeled the coculture of NMIBC organoids with candidate urinary Eubacterium sp. CAG:581 in anaerobic condition and explored differentially expressed genes of NMIBC organoids by RNA-Seq. Furthermore, we dissected the mechanisms involved into Eubacterium sp. CAG:581-induced extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) upregulation. Finally, we used multivariate Cox modeling to investigate the clinical relevance of urinary Eubacterium sp. CAG:581 16S ribosomal RNA (16SrRNA) levels with the prognosis of 406 NMIBC patients as the Cohort 2.
Results: Eubacterium sp. CAG:581infection accelerated the proliferation of NMIBC organoids (P < 0.01); ECM1 and MMP9 were the most upregulated gene induced by increased colony forming units (CFU) gradient of Eubacterium sp. CAG:581 infection, via phosphorylating ERK1/2 in NMIBC organoids of the Cohort 1. Excluding the favorable impact of potential contributing factors, ROC curve of the Cohort 2 manifested its 3-year AUC value as 0.79 and the cut-off point of Eubacterium sp. CAG:581 16SrRNA as 10.3 (delta CT value).
Conclusion: Our evidence suggests that urinary Eubacterium sp. CAG:581 promoted NMIBC progression through ECM1/MMP9 pathway, which may serve as the promising noninvasive diagnostic biomarker for NMIBC.
Protoscolex evagination and pre-worm maintenance with bile are key processes for adult worm development of Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis in vitro
Authors: Maimaitizunong Palitaji , Li Jun , Wu Chuanchuan , Tian Mengxiao , Qi Wenjing , Jiao Hongjie , Zhang Hui , Gong Qiaoqiao , Guo Gang , Zhang Yalou , Zhang Wenbao 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Background: In vitro cultivation of Echinococcus is essential for vaccine development to prevent transmission of echinococcosis to dogs. We optimized the conditions for Echinococcusprotoscolex evagination and adult worm development in vitro, including those of water, bile, bile salt, trypsin, and serum in the culture system.
Results: Short stimulation (2 × 20 s) with water significantly increased the evagination of protoscoleces (pre-worms) of both E. granulosus and E. multilocularis. However, medium containing fetal calf serum (FCS) invaginated 92% of these evaginated protoscoleces. Preculture of the evaginated protoscoleces in no-serum RPMI1640 medium containing dog bile or bile salt for three days maintained 80.5% of the evaginated protoscoleces. Dog serum gel-base maintained 79.8% of the evaginated protoscoleces developing adult worms, which was higher than newborn bovine serum gel-base. The rapidly developing worms had 3–4 progloids after 56 days of culture. E. granulosus worms were longer and wider in size than E. multilocularis after five weeks of in vitro culture.
Conclusions: Brief stimulation with water for proscolex evagination and pre-worm maintenance in no-serum medium are crucial for in vitro worm development of E. granulosus and E. multilocularis. Dog serum gel-base and bile salts are important for long-term tapeworm development.
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81830066, U1803282)
Comparison of morphological and metabolic imaging of COVID-19 pneumonia in a prospective clinical study
Authors: Czibor Sándor , Száraz Lili , Simon Judit , Dombai Brigitta , Gyebnár János , Szántó Péter , Magyar Máté , Dey Damini , Szakács László , Zsarnóczay Emese , Müller Veronika , Merkely Béla , Györke Tamás , Maurovich-Horvat Pál 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Purpose To evaluate morphological and metabolic findings in novel coronavirus 19 disease (COVID-19) with 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT).
Materials and methods This was a single-centre, prospective clinical trial enrolling consecutive patients who required hospitalisation due to COVID-19 infection. All patients underwent routine chest CT on admission and a follow-up FDG-PET/CT scan on the 7th day of hospitalisation. COVID-19 related lung alterations, such as ground-glass opacity (GGO) and consolidation were quantified with semi-automated software using deep learning (DL) and metabolic parameters were expressed with PET-based metabolic inflammatory volume (MIV) and total inflammatory activity (TIA). The primary outcome was defined as increased inflammatory state on PET scan, with the median MIV and TIA being the cut-off value.
Results Forty-four patients were enrolled (25 men; median [IQR] age: 52 [49-61] years). The median [IQR] MIV and TIA were 209 [73-517] ml and 499 [155-1429], respectively. The percentage of GGO and total lung CT severity scores at baseline CT showed weak correlation with MIV and TIA (r=0.33-0.39; p=0.13-0.34). At follow-up, we detected a strong correlation between all chest CT abnormalities and MIV and TIA (r=0.77; p<0.01 and r=0.75; p<0.01, respectively), as well as between CT severity scores and MIV and TIA (r=0.77; p<0.01 and r=0.75; p<0.01, respectively). Logistic regression analysis adjusted for demographics revealed that the extent of chest CT abnormalities on follow-up was an independent predictor of high inflammatory state (OR [by 1% change] =1.11 for both MIV and TIA; p=0.018 for MIV and p=0.021 for TIA). Also, a model encompassing CT abnormalities, interleukin-6 and lactate-dehydrogenase levels at follow-up showed high predictive values for inflammatory state, with an area-under-the-curve (AUC) on receiver operating characteristics analysis of 0.88.
Conclusion The metabolic inflammatory volume and activity of COVID-19-pneumonia showed good correlation with morphological changes on CT imaging performed 7 days after patient hospitalization. Combining CT and laboratory data (lactate dehydrogenase and interleukin-6 levels), FDG-PET-based lung inflammatory status could effectively be predicted.
Trial registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov (ID: NCT05009563). Registered 17 August 2021 (retrospectively registered), first patient enrolled: 13 January 2021.
Development of new effective activated carbon supported alkaline adsorbent used for removal phenolic compounds from refinery waste water in a fixed bed adsorption column
Authors: Humadi Jasim I. , Nawaf Amer. T. , Khamees Luay Ahmed , Abd-Alhussain Yasser A. , Muhsin Hussain F. , Ahmed Mustafa A. , Ahmed Marwan M. 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Phenolic compounds are the major contaminates in wastewater, which can have a considerable negative influence on the environment and health of human. Adsorption is an efficient process that is widely applied in order to eliminate phenol in wastewater. In recent, Adsorption process has acquired a lot of attentiveness owing to its relative moderate operating conditions. However, adsorption process needs considerable ameliorations in terms of adsorbent modification, process type, productivity, and conversion rate. This work studies the development of a fast and effective adsorption process in a fixed bed adsorption column (FBAC) in order to reach safe and continuous elimination of phenolic compounds. Several adsorption parameters (reaction temperature, adsorbent bed height, feed flow rate and kind of adsorbent) were studied to achieve the highest removal of phenolic compounds. The adsorption process was conducted in the presence of two type of adsorbents (activated carbon (AC), and KOH/AC), 73% and 94% of phenol elimination were attained, respectively, at 10 cm bed height, 1 ml/s feed flow rate, and 75 °C reaction temperature. The adsorbents activity was investigated after six consecutive adsorption cycles at the best process conditions, and the adsorbents show high stability in terms of phenolic compounds adsorption. After that, the spent adsorbents were regenerated by utilizing various solvents (methanol, ethanol and iso-octane), and the results show that iso- octane achieved highest regeneration efficiency. The adsorption process was implemented in the adsorption column that the performance is possibly to be adjusted at an industrial scale since it can be scaled up predictably.
Urinary tract infections among adults with decompensated liver cirrhosis at a large urban health facility in Uganda
Authors: Sekimpi Maria , Seremba Emmanuel , Ocama Ponsiano , Byakika-Kibwika Pauline 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Background
Decompensated cirrhosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally affecting close to 10.6 million people of which an estimated 28,877 are in Uganda. Bacterial infections including urinary tract infections (UTIs) are an increasing cause of short-term mortality in this sub-population. Data on UTIs among patients with cirrhosis are scarce in Uganda and other settings in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) which suffer a high burden of liver diseases. We determined the prevalence, microbiologic spectrum and antibacterial sensitivity patterns of UTIs among patients with decompensated cirrhosis at a large urban health facility in Uganda.
Methods
Patients with decompensated cirrhosis presenting to a tertiary care centre in Uganda were enrolled in the study. Demographic and clinical features of UTI were captured and urine samples collected. Urinalysis and urine culture studies were conducted to determine presence of UTIs and antibacterial susceptibility patterns. Urinalysis results of ≥ 5 white cells per high power field and or culture findings of ≥ 104CFUs/ml defined UTI. Analysis was done using STATA 16.0 and findings summarized in percentages.
Results
Irrespective of symptomatology, prevalence of UTI was 37.1% (106/286) on either urinalysis alone 11/286 (3.9%), urine culture alone 77/286 (26.9%) or both 18/286 (6.3%). The most common bacteria isolated were Escherichia coli (40.1%) and Enterococcus spp (22.9%). The majority of isolates were resistant to fluoroquinolones, penicillins and third generation cephalosporins. Multidrug resistant organisms particularly ESBL and MRSA constituted 32.7% of the bacterial isolates.
Conclusion
Urinary tract infection is common among patients with decompensated cirrhosis, occurring in one third of patients with cirrhosis and are commonly caused by gram negative bacteria resistant to commonly recommended antibacterial agents in Uganda. Regardless of symptomatology, we recommend screening of patients with decompensated cirrhosis for UTI at presentation.
Neural activation of food reward and cognitive control regions in young females
with anorexia nervosa and atypical anorexia nervosa versus healthy controls
Authors: Eddy Kamryn , Plessow Franziska , Breithaupt Lauren , Becker Kendra , Slattery Meghan , Mancuso Christopher , Izquierdo Alyssa , De Water Avery Van , Kahn Danielle , Dreier Melissa , Deckersbach Thilo , Thomas Jennifer , Holsen Laura , Misra Madhusmita , Lawson Elizabeth 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) and atypical AN (AtypAN) are complex neurobiological illnesses that typically onset in adolescence with an often treatment-refractory and chronic illness trajectory. Aberrant eating behaviors in this population have been linked to abnormalities in food reward and cognitive control, but prior studies have not examined respective contributions of clinical characteristics and metabolic state. Research is needed to identify specific disruptions and inform novel intervention targets to improve outcomes. Fifty-nine females with AN (n = 34) or AtypAN (n = 25), ages 10–22 years, all ≤ 90% expected body weight, and 34 age-matched healthy controls (HC) completed a validated neuroimaging food motivation paradigm pre- and post- standardized meal, and we used ANCOVA models to investigate main and interaction effects of Group and Appetitive State on blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) activation. We found main effects of Group with greater BOLD activation in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), hippocampus, caudate, and putamen for AN/AtypAN versus HC groups, and in the three-group model including AN, AtypAN, and HC groups, where differences were primarily driven by greater activation in AtypAN versus HC groups. We found a main effect of Appetitive State with increased premeal BOLD activation in the hypothalamus, amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and caudate for models that included AN/AtypAN and HC groups, and in BOLD activation in the nucleus accumbens for the model that included AN, AtypAN, and HC groups. There were no interaction effects of Group with Appetitive State for any of the models. Our findings suggest robust feeding-state independent group effects reflecting greater activation of reward-related brain regions as well as cognitive control regions across AN and AtypAN that may override observed increased activation of reward regions, in turn supporting the maintenance of a negative energy balance in this clinical population.
Studying charge-carrier intercalation/deintercalation in energy storage materials by optical spectroscopy
Authors: Chen Xuancheng , Huan Yu , Sun Ningqiang , Su Yuanhui , Shen Xuesong , Li Guoqing , Zhang Jiaqi , wei tao 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Understanding how charge-carrier intercalation/deintercalation that affects the charge-discharge process is essential for the development of efficient energy storage materials. So far, a clear understanding about the relationship of charge-discharge process of energy storage materials with the corresponding changes of energy band structure is still lacking. Here, using optical spectroscopy (RGB value, reflectivity, transmittance, UV-vis, XPS, UPS) to study α-Co(OH)2 electrode working in KOH electrolyte as research object, we provide direct experimental evidence that: 1) the intercalation of OH– ions will reduce the valence/conduction band (VB and CB) and band gap energy (Eg) values; 2) the deintercalation of OH– ions corresponds with the reversion of VB, CB and Eg to the initial values; 3) the color of Co(OH)2 electrode also exhibit regular variations in Red-Green-Blue (RGB) value during the charge-discharge process.
Quantifying Whole Bladder Biomechanics Using the Novel Pentaplanar Reflected Image Macroscopy System
Authors: Hennig Grant , Saxena Pragya , Broemer Eli , Herrera Gerald M. , Roccabianca Sara , Tykocki Nathan R. 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Optimal bladder compliance is essential to urinary bladder storage and voiding functions. Calculated as the change in filling volume per change in pressure, bladder compliance is used clinically to characterize changes in bladder wall biomechanical properties that associate with lower urinary tract dysfunction. But because this method calculates compliance without regard to wall structure or wall volume, it gives little insight into the mechanical properties of the bladder wall during filling. Thus, we developed Pentaplanar Reflected Image Macroscopy (PRIM): a novel ex vivo imaging method to accurately calculate bladder wall stress and stretch in real time during bladder filling. The PRIM system simultaneously records intravesical pressure, infused volume, and an image of the bladder in 5 distinct visual planes. Wall thickness and volume were then measured and used to calculate stress and stretch during filling. As predicted, wall stress was nonlinear; only when intravesical pressure exceeded ~ 15 mmHg did bladder wall stress rapidly increase with respect to stretch. This method of calculating compliance as stress vs stretch also showed that the mechanical properties of the bladder wall remain similar in bladders of varying capacity. This study demonstrates how wall tension, stress and stretch can be measured, quantified, and used to accurately define bladder wall biomechanics in terms of actual material properties and not pressure/volume changes. This method is especially useful for determining how changes in bladder biomechanics are altered in pathologies where profound bladder wall remodeling occurs, such as diabetes and spinal cord injury.
Psychometrics of the Persian version of Program in Palliative Care Education and Practice Questionnaire (German Revised - PPCEP-GR)
Authors: Abdoli Mohajer , Fetz Katharina , Molavynejad Shahram , Nia Hamid Sharif , Asadizaker Marziyeh 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Background
In order to improve the provision of palliative care by nurses, it is necessary to have a tool that measures different dimensions of palliative care and the knowledge and performance of nurses in this field. The Program in Palliative Care Education and Practice Questionnaire (German Revised) is psychometrically evaluated for the first time in Iran.
Methods
To measure the psychometric properties of the tool, 360 nursing students (BSc, MSc, PhD) and clinical nurses completed the questionnaire. Validity of the tool was checked and quantitative and qualitative face validity of the tool was done by the target group. Then, content validity was evaluated by quantitative and qualitative methods (CVR-CVI) based on the opinions of the panel of experts. Construct validity of the instrument was performed with exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA-CFA). The reliability of the instrument was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha and calculating Composite reliability and Omega coefficient.
Results
After conducting construct validity and factor analysis. 4 factors (Knowledge and skill of managing patients' pain and symptoms, Management of ethical and psychological issues in patients, communicating with patients and their families & Management of patients' exposure to grief and attitudes towards death) were extracted from the tool. The total variance was equal to (%43) and Cronbach's alpha coefficient and Composite reliability for factors fluctuated between (0.721–0.891) and (0.702–0.903).
Conclusion
Persian version of the Program in Palliative Care Education and Practice Questionnaire (German Revised Version; PPCEP-GR) is a valid and reliable tool that can be used to measure the knowledge and performance of nurses and nursing graduates in the field of palliative care.