bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of ABCA1 gene polymorphism as a prognostic index of fibrosis progression in NAFLD patients
Authors: Ghanem Samar E. , Elsabaawy Maha M. , Abdelkareem Mervat M. , Helal Marwa L. , Othman Warda , Elsayed Mahitab , Elsabaawy Dalia M. , El Fert Ashraf 
Published: November 2022

AbstractIntroductionIt had been evident that non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the new era epidemic. Despite emergence of many drugs on the pipeline that considered candidates to cure NAFLD/NASH, the critical need for defining the cohort liable to fibrosis progression is yet unmet.AimEvaluate ABCA1 (rs1800977) genotyping as a noninvasive predictor of liver fibrosis severity.Materials and MethodsThis study included 118 liver biopsy‐proven NAFLD‐patients. According to Metavir‐fibrosis‐staging, cases were divided to early fibrosis (74 cases), and 44 cases with significant fibrosis (>F2), added to 49 healthy control subjects. All patients were subjected to liver function tests, lipids profile, triglyceride TG index, and hepatic steatosis index (HSI) and real‐time PCR ABCA1 SNP (rs1800977).ResultsSignificant differences in transaminases (p > .05), albumin (p < .009), cholesterol (p0.03), low density lipoproteins (LDL) (0.006), triglycerides (p < .001), HSI (p < .001), FIB4 (p < .001) and APRI (p < .001) were reported in those with significant than early fibrosis and control groups. CC was the most prevalent in significant (36.4%) than early fibrosis (13.5%) and control groups (8.2%), with prevalence of C allele in significant fibrosis (p ≤ .003). Univariate analysis revealed that DM (p ≤ .001), TG index (p ≤ .022), cholesterol (p ≤ .03), HSI (p ≤ .006), LDL (p ≤ .02), HDL (p ≤ .01), APRI (p ≤ .02) and CC genotype (p ≤ .005) were the main factors affecting fibrosis progression in NAFLD. However multivariate analysis proved only the role of HSI (p ≤ .005), LDL (p ≤ .02), HDL (p ≤ .003) and CC genotype (p ≤ .03) in predicting fibrosis severity.ConclusionDyslipidemias, hepatic steatosis index and ABCA1 (rs1800977) gene polymorphism CC genotype; were the only independent predictors of advanced fibrosis in NAFLD‐patients.
Prognostic value of plasma sAXL in patients with heart failure: insights from the DRAGON‐HF trial
Authors: Liu Yifan , Wang Xiaoyu , Pan Xin , Ma Teng , Xu Yawei , Fen Qimao , Nijiati Muyesai , Chi Chen , Su Yang , Zhang Xianling , Xu Dachun 
Published: November 2022

AbstractBackgroundLittle is known about the predictive value of soluble AXL (sAXL) in heart failure (HF). This study aimed to describe the prognostic value of plasma sAXL in patients with symptomatic HF.MethodsThis is a multicentre observational prospective cohort study (Registration No. NCT03727828). Plasma sAXL were measured on admission. The primary endpoint is a composite of cardiovascular mortality and HF rehospitalization. Associations between plasma sAXL levels and clinical endpoints are described using Cox regression models and Kaplan–Meier methods.ResultsA total of 1030 symptomatic HF patients were enrolled in the study; the mean age (65% men) was 71 ± 12 years, with a median follow‐up of 32 months (IQR: 26–41 months). The mean baseline sAXL levels were 20.03 ± 6.74 ng/mL. Plasma sAXL positively associated with NYHA classification and negatively associated with left ventricular ejection fraction (both P < 0.001). Cox regression showed that 1‐SD increment of sAXL was associated with primary endpoint [HR (CI): 1.128 (1.024–1.242)], cardiovascular mortality [1.112 (1.032–1.198)], all‐cause mortality [1.142 (1.057–1.234)], and HF rehospitalization [1.122 (1.030–1.224)] after adjustment for potential confounders including NT‐proBNP. Kaplan–Meier curves revealed that patients with the highest sAXL levels were at the highest risk of primary endpoint events, cardiovascular mortality, and all‐cause mortality (all P values < 0.001). Furthermore, both Kaplan–Meier method and Categorical analysis demonstrated that the combined use of sAXL and NT‐proBNP were more likely to predict all‐cause or cardiovascular mortality (both P < 0.001). Similar results were observed when separating patients with respect to left ventricular ejection fraction, namely, in HFrEF, HFmrEF, and HFpEF groups.ConclusionsPlasma sAXL concentrations are of great importance in predicting clinical outcomes in HF patients, independent of NT‐proBNP, suggesting that sAXL is a promising prognostic marker for further study.
Cardiovascular vs. non‐cardiovascular deaths after heart failure hospitalization in young, older, and very old patients
Authors: Nakamaru Ryo , Shiraishi Yasuyuki , Sandhu Alexander T. , Heidenreich Paul A. , Shoji Satoshi , Kohno Takashi , Takei Makoto , Nagatomo Yuji , Nakano Shintaro , Kohsaka Shun , Yoshikawa Tsutomu 
Published: November 2022

AbstractAimsThe long‐term outcome in patients with heart failure (HF) after hospitalization may vary substantially depending on their age and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). We aimed to assess the relative rates of cardiovascular death (CVD) and non‐CVD based on the age and how the rates differ under the updated LVEF classification system.Methods and resultsConsecutively registered hospitalized patients with HF (N = 3558; 39.7% women with a mean age of 73.9 ± 13.3 years) were followed for a median of 2 (interquartile range, 0.8–3.1) years. The CVDs and non‐CVDs were evaluated based on age [young (<65 years), older (65–84 years), and very old (≥85 years)] and LVEF classification [HF with preserved EF (HFpEF; LVEF ≥50%) and non‐HFpEF (LVEF <50%)]. The adverse clinical events were adjudicated independently by a central committee. Overall, 1505 (42.3%) had HFpEF [young: n = 182 (12.1%), older: n = 894 (59.4%), very old: n = 429 (28.5%)], and 2053 (57.7%) had non‐HFpEF [young: n = 575 (28.0%), older: n = 1159 (56.5%), very old: n = 319 (15.5%)]. During the follow‐up, the crude incidence of all‐cause death was higher in non‐HFpEF than in HFpEF across all age groups (non‐HFpEF vs. HFpEF, young: 10.4% vs. 5.5%, log‐rank P = 0.10; older: 26.6% vs. 20.9%, log‐rank P = 0.002; very old: 36.7% vs. 31.7%, log‐rank P = 0.043). CVDs accounted for more than half of all deaths in non‐HFpEF (young 65.0%, older 64.2%, and very old 55.6%), whereas the proportion of CVDs remained less than half in HFpEF (young 50.0%, older 41.2%, very old 38.2%). HF readmission was associated with subsequent all‐cause death in non‐HFpEF [hazard ratio (HR): 1.72, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.41–2.09, P < 0.001], but not in HFpEF (HR: 1.12, 95% CI: 0.87–1.43, P = 0.39).ConclusionsThe probability of a non‐CVD increases in both LVEF categories with advancing age, but that it is greater in the HFpEF category. The findings indicate that mitigating CV‐related outcomes alone may be insufficient for treating HF in older population, particularly in the HFpEF category.
Kinetically‐Locked Metallomacrocycle for Host‐Guest Chemistry with Bulky Anions
Authors: Kawano Shin‐ichiro , Harada Takahiro , Sasaki Ako , Tanaka Kentaro 
Published: November 2022

AbstractAs a robust and large molecular receptor, a kinetically‐locked trinuclear Co(III) macrocycle was synthesized with bis(β‐diketone) ligands having large π‐panels of 9,10‐diphenylanthracene moieties via a combination of Co(II)‐assisted self‐assembly and subsequent oxidation of the metal centers. The X‐ray structure revealed that the macrocycle had a discrete nanocavity of more than 300 Å3, which was surrounded by three anthracenyl panels in the middle. As the macrocycle has three cationic centres on each metal ion and a large cavity, it acts as a guest receptor for sodium tetraphenylborate. The binding constant was estimated to be 4.0×10−2 M−1 from 1H NMR titration experiments, whereas no interaction was observed between the macrocycle and potassium 1‐adamantanecarboxylate.
Flexibility versus Rigidity: How Conformational Constraint, Steric Hindrance and Solvent Impact Binding between π‐Electron Poor Tweezer‐Type Hosts and π‐Electron Rich Guests
Authors: Panther Lydia A. , Stankunaite Monika , Sharma Manvendra , Spencer John , Greenland Barnaby W. 
Published: November 2022

AbstractTweezer‐type receptors that form π−π stacked supramolecular complexes are important components in functional polymeric materials and molecular machines. Herein, we study how varying specific structural components of tweezer‐receptors impacts their binding. A library of tweezer receptors, each containing two π‐electron poor receptor residues and differing by the nature of the linking unit which was either a flexible 2,2′‐(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylamine) residue or a rigid 3,3’’‐diamino‐m‐terphenyl diamine structure, were synthesised. Each tweezer formed 1 : 1 supramolecular complexes with π‐electron rich residues (1,5‐dihydroxynapthalene and pyrene) as confirmed by UV/Vis and 1H NMR spectroscopic studies. Binding constants were determined to be between 2.3×10−5 and 71 M−1 in organic solvents and were one magnitude greater in aqueous solvents for water soluble systems. The nature of the linker had variable effects on the binding constants, showing the design of tweezer type supramolecular receptors with targeted Ka values is non‐trivial and requires structural optimisation supported by binding constant determination studies.
Dynamic fine‐tuning layer selection using Kullback–Leibler divergence
Authors: Wanjiku Raphael Ngigi , Nderu Lawrence , Kimwele Michael 
Published: November 2022

AbstractThe selection of layers in the transfer learning fine‐tuning process ensures a pre‐trained model's accuracy and adaptation in a new target domain. However, the selection process is still manual and without clearly defined criteria. If the wrong layers in a neural network are selected and used, it could lead to poor accuracy and model generalization in the target domain. This paper introduces the use of Kullback–Leibler divergence on the weight correlations of the model's convolutional neural network layers. The approach identifies the positive and negative weights in the ImageNet initial weights selecting the best‐suited layers of the network depending on the correlation divergence. We experiment on four publicly available datasets and six ImageNet pre‐trained models used in past studies for results comparisons. This proposed approach method yields better accuracies than the standard fine‐tuning baselines with a margin accuracy rate of 10.8%–24%, thereby leading to better model adaptation for target transfer learning tasks.
The risk‐targeted verification model of earthquake‐induced sliding displacement of low‐rise thermally base‐insulated buildings
Authors: Žižmond Jure , Dolšek Matjaž 
Published: November 2022

AbstractNew construction technologies are evolving in the market faster than codes for earthquake‐resistant building design. Earthquake‐resistant design of nearly zero‐energy buildings that are constructed throughout Europe and thermally insulated system below the foundation is not yet supported by the codes. However, major earthquakes can cause the sliding of these buildings and damage lifelines, potentially triggering domino effects such as fire or explosions. To address this issue, a numerical framework to evaluate the risk‐targeted engineering demand parameter is introduced and applied to establish a database of risk‐targeted sliding displacements in Slovenia for low‐rise buildings with a specific type of thermally insulated system below foundation pads. The database of risk‐targeted sliding displacement accounts for seismic hazard at the location of the building, the soil type, the thermally insulated foundation pad system variant, and the characteristics of the structure above the thermal insulation layers. The database of the risk‐targeted sliding displacement was then used to introduce a code‐based verification model to design the diameter of the penetration in the structure of low‐rise buildings, with the aim of preventing the failure of hazardous lifelines entering the building. Engineering practitioners can easily apply this simple verification model to design the diameter of the penetrations. However, the model shows that the maximum sliding displacement corresponding to the annual target risk of 2·10−4 is expected to be only about 4 cm for the thermally base‐insulated low‐rise buildings in Slovenia investigated in this study.
Laundoniella, a new replacement name for Skvortzoviella J. Yu, X.W. Wang, S.L. Liu & L.W. Zhou (Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota)
Authors: Deshmukh Umakant B. 
Published: November 2022

AbstractAccording to article 53.1 of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), Skvortzoviella Jia Yu, Xue W. Wang, S.L. Liu & L.W. Zhou (2021;19:12), the name of a genus of fungi described from China is illegitimate, and hence a new name Laundoniella U.B. Deshmukh is proposed here with new a combination for its type species.
Multiclass financial distress prediction based on one‐versus‐one decomposition integrated with improved decision‐directed acyclic graph
Authors: Sun Jie , Li Jie , Fujita Hamido , Ai Wenguo 
Published: November 2022

AbstractAlthough binary financial distress prediction (FDP) is widely explored, multiclass FDP (MFDP) lacks enough investigation. This paper designs a new fusion method of improved decision‐directed acyclic graph (IDDAG) based on the principle of maximizing generalization ability and integrates it with the one‐versus‐one (OVO) decomposition method (OVO‐IDDAG) to build MFDP models. Based on data of Chinese listed companies, we categorize corporate financial status into four states (financial soundness, financial pseudosoundness, moderate financial distress, and serious financial distress) and compare the MFDP performance of OVO‐IDDAG with two benchmark methods, that is, the OVO decomposition method integrated with the max‐win fusion method (OVO‐ max‐win) and the OVO decomposition method integrated with the original DDAG fusion method (OVO‐ODDAG). The experimental results show that the OVO‐IDDAG method overall outperformances the benchmark methods. Among the six base classifiers of multivariate discriminant analysis, Logit, naive bayes, support vector machine, decision tree, and random forest and the three imbalance processing mechanisms of random oversampling, random undersampling, and synthetic minority oversampling technique, the combination of the random forest classifier with the imbalance processing mechanism of random undersampling or the support vector machine classifier with the imbalance processing mechanism of random oversampling or synthetic minority oversampling technique is more suitable for MFDP based on OVO‐IDDAG. This study not only improves artificial intelligence methodology for multiclass classification but also enriches applications of intelligent systems to MFDP.
Local ageing effects of polymer electrolyte fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies due to accelerated durability testing
Authors: Koprek M. , Schlumberger R. , Wachtel C. , Wilhelm F. , Messerschmidt M. , Scholta J. , Hölzle M. 
Published: November 2022

AbstractAccelerated durability test (ADT) protocols are useful tools to reduce testing time and development costs of automotive polymer electrolyte fuel cell stacks. Established accelerated stress tests allow comparing individual cell components. However, such tests in general do not allow drawing reliable conclusions on the expected lifetime for a complete stack. In this work, we examine the influence of combined stressors on the ageing behavior of individual cell components operated on stack level. We combine known main stressors for mobile fuel‐cell operation such as dynamic load, temperature and humidity cycling or hydrogen/air fronts during start‐up to develop a new accelerated test protocol. It was applied to an automotive 5‐cell short stack for 460 operating hours (OpH). A second stack was operated in a reference long‐term test for 2300 OpH. Several in situ characterization techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry, and recording the local current density distribution were employed. In addition, post‐mortem analyses, such as focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy imaging, was applied in order to better understand the degradation mechanisms. The results presented here provide an excellent basis for the further development of a new ADT protocol, which will accelerate ageing processes in the fuel cell in a realistic way, i.e. leading to similar degradation characteristics as in long term testing.
Bilateral axillo‐breast approach robotic total thyroidectomy in a 5‐year‐old patient with intractable Graves' disease
Authors: Lee Ja Kyung , Choi Jee‐Hye , Kim Woochul , Yu Hyeong Won , Kim Su‐jin , Chai Young Jun , Choi June Young , Kim Jae Hyun , Lee Kyu Eun 
Published: November 2022

AbstractRobotic thyroid surgeries in children are gaining popularity due to cosmetic advantages, but most previous studies include patients of school‐age or older. We hereby introduce our case of a 5‐year‐old patient with Graves' disease to show key differences and similarities between pediatric and adult bilateral axillo‐breast approach (BABA) robotic thyroidectomies. Despite the small body, no additional working space was needed and the flap creation was performed as similarly done in adults. The anatomy was not much different, except that the parathyroid tissues were easily identified due to low body fat, and the prominent thymus covered most of the level VI area. The patient did not experience postoperative complications such as hypoparathyroidism or vocal cord palsy. Postoperative wounds showed excellent results with minimal scars. BABA robotic thyroidectomy can be performed safely in pediatric patients and may be considered an alternative option for conventional open thyroidectomy in children.
Dietary fiber chemical structure determined gut microbiota dynamics
Authors: Meng Xin , Zheng Jun , Wang Fengqiao , Zheng Jie , Yang Dong 
Published: November 2022

AbstractPrecision modulation of gut microbiota requires elucidation of the relation between dietary fiber intake and gut microbe dynamics. However, current studies on this aspect are few due to many technical limitations. Here, we used Caenorhabditis elegans to minimize the complicated host–microbial factors and to find the relation between dietary fiber chemical structures and gut microbiota dynamics. The Allium schoenoprasum polysaccharide (AssP) structure was elucidated and used as the complex dietary fiber against the simple fiber inulin. In vitro bacterial growth and genome analysis indicated that AssP supports bacterial growth better than inulin, while in vivo gut microbiota analysis of C. elegans fed with AssP showed that microbiota richness increased significantly compared with those fed with inulin. It is concluded that the more complex the dietary fiber chemical structure, the more gut bacteria growth it supports. Together with the community bacterial interactions that alter their abundances in vivo, these factors regulate gut microbiota synergistically.
TECHNIQUES OF SELF‐TUNING
Authors: Wellstead P. E. , Zanker P. 
Published: November 2022

SUMMARYThe fundamental ideas and methodology of self‐tuning control are discussed in a non‐theoretical manner. The underlying theme used to link the work is that self‐tuners are not completely automatic methods of determining a control law. In other words, it is accepted that self‐tuners have to be tuned. Our aim here is to give guidance on the manner and nature of this self‐tuning.
Effect of simulated body fluid formulation on orthopedic device apatite‐forming ability assessment
Authors: Nguyen Alexander K. , Nelson Sarah B. , Skoog Shelby A. , Jaipan Panupong , Petrochenko Peter E. , Kaiser Aric , Lo Linh , Moreno Jose , Narayan Roger J. , Goering Peter L. , Kumar Girish 
Published: November 2022

AbstractIntegration of native bone into orthopedic devices is a key factor in long‐term implant success. The material‐tissue interface is generally accepted to consist of a hydroxyapatite layer so bioactive materials that can spontaneously generate this hydroxyapatite layer after implantation may improve patient outcomes. Per the ISO 22317:2014 standard, “Implants for surgery – In vitro evaluation for apatite‐forming ability of implant materials,” bioactivity performance statements can be assessed by soaking the material in simulated body fluid (SBF) and evaluating the surface for the formation of a hydroxyapatite layer; however, variations in test methods may alter hydroxyapatite formation and result in false‐positive assessments. The goal of this study was to identify the effect of SBF formulation on bioactivity assessment. Bioglass® (45S5 and S53P4) and non‐bioactive Ti‐6Al‐4V were exposed to SBF formulations varying in calcium ion and phosphate concentrations as well as supporting ion concentrations. Scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray powder diffraction evaluation of the resulting hydroxyapatite layers revealed that SBF enriched with double or quadruple the calcium and phosphate ion concentrations increased hydroxyapatite crystal size and quantity compared to the standard formulation and can induce hydroxyapatite crystallization on surfaces traditionally considered non‐bioactive. Altering concentrations of other ions, for example, bicarbonate, changed hydroxyapatite induction time, quantity, and morphology. For studies evaluating the apatite‐forming ability of a material to support bioactivity performance statements, test method parameters must be adequately described and controlled. It is unclear if apatite formation after exposure to any of the SBF formulations is representative of an in vivo biological response. The ISO 23317 standard test method should be further developed to provide additional guidance on apatite characterization and interpretation of the results.
The vertical excitation energies and a lifetime of the two lowest singlet excited states of the conjugated polyenes from C2 to C22: Ab initio, DFT, and semiclassical MNDO‐MD simulations
Authors: Fatková Kateřina , Cajzl Radim , Burda Jaroslav V. 
Published: November 2022

AbstractElectronic excited states in the series of polyene molecules were explored. Optimal ground‐state geometry was used for the evaluation of vertical excitation energies. Results of a chosen set of functionals were compared to post‐HF methods (EOM‐CCSD, NEVPT2, CASPT2, and MRCI). In addition, the semiempirical OM2/MNDO method using MRCISD computational level was confronted with the above‐mentioned techniques. Despite the fact that the first excited state has a significant double‐excitation character some functionals were able to qualitatively determine the correct state order (where the lowest excited state has a character). The most successful functionals in transition energies predictions were PBE, TPSS and BLYP in Tamm‐Dancoff approach (TDA), which had the smallest root‐mean‐square deviation (RMSD) scoring towards the experimental values. Regarding RMSD scoring, the OM2/MNDO method performed fairly well, too. Besides absorption spectra, lifetimes of the first two excited states were estimated based on a stochastic approach exploring a swarm of OM2/MNDO hopping dynamics using the Tully fewest switch algorithm for each molecule. The longest lifetime of the first excited state (S1) was found for decapentaene (about 5 ps). Further elongation of the conjugated chain caused a mild decrease of this value to ca 1.5 ps for docosaundecaene.