bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The emerging role of magnesium in CKD
Authors: Sakaguchi Yusuke 
Published: January 2022

AbstractIncreasing evidence has suggested a clinical relevance of magnesium in the context of vascular calcification and mortality among patients with CKD. Hypomagnesemia is not rare among non-dialysis CKD patients despite their decreased glomerular filtration rates; the prevalence rate was about 15% even in CKD stages G4 and G5. Among several potential causes of hypomagnesemia, tubular dysfunction/interstitial fibrosis may play a pivotal role in the development of hypomagnesemia in CKD, which impairs tubular magnesium reabsorption. Magnesium deficiency may, in turn, be involved in the progression of CKD. An in vitro study has revealed that magnesium deficiency aggravates tubular cell death and inflammation induced by phosphate load. In a cohort study of patients with CKD, low-serum magnesium levels enhanced the risk of end-stage kidney disease related to high-serum phosphate levels, suggesting a close relationship between magnesium deficiency and phosphate toxicity. More importantly, magnesium has a potent capacity to inhibit the calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells induced by phosphate. A randomized trial has shown the efficacy of oral magnesium oxide in retarding the progression of coronary artery calcification among non-dialysis CKD patients. Thus, magnesium might provide better cardiovascular prognosis; indeed, hemodialysis patients with mild hypermagnesemia exhibited the lowest mortality rate. Further randomized trials are needed to assess the impact of magnesium in terms of hard clinical outcomes among CKD patients.
Decision-making under uncertainty: be aware of your priorities
Authors: Samin Huma , Bencomo Nelly , Sawyer Peter 
Published: January 2022

AbstractSelf-adaptive systems (SASs) are increasingly leveraging autonomy in their decision-making to manage uncertainty in their operating environments. A key problem with SASs is ensuring their requirements remain satisfied as they adapt. The trade-off analysis of the non-functional requirements (NFRs) is key to establish balance among them. Further, when performing the trade-offs it is necessary to know the importance of each NFR to be able to resolve conflicts among them. Such trade-off analyses are often built upon optimisation methods, including decision analysis and utility theory. A problem with these techniques is that they use a single-scalar utility value to represent the overall combined priority for all the NFRs. However, this combined scalar priority value may hide information about the impacts of the environmental contexts on the individual NFRs’ priorities, which may change over time. Hence, there is a need for support for runtime, autonomous reasoning about the separate priority values for each NFR, while using the knowledge acquired based on evidence collected. In this paper, we propose Pri-AwaRE, a self-adaptive architecture that makes use of Multi-Reward Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (MR-POMDP) to perform decision-making for SASs while offering awareness of NFRs’ priorities. MR-POMDP is used as a priority-aware runtime specification model to support runtime reasoning and autonomous tuning of the distinct priority values of NFRs using a vector-valued reward function. We also evaluate the usefulness of our Pri-AwaRE approach by applying it to two substantial example applications from the networking and IoT domains.
Requirements document relations
Authors: Großer Katharina , Riediger Volker , Jürjens Jan 
Published: January 2022

AbstractRelations between requirements are part of nearly every requirements engineering approach. Yet, relations of views, such as requirements documents, are scarcely considered. This is remarkable as requirements documents and their structure are a key factor in requirements reuse, which is still challenging. Explicit formalized relations between documents can help to ensure consistency, improve completeness, and facilitate review activities in general. For example, this is relevant in space engineering, where many challenges related to complex document dependencies occur: 1. Several contractors contribute to a project. 2. Requirements from standards have to be applied in several projects. 3. Requirements from previous phases have to be reused. We exploit the concept of “layered traceability”, explicitly considering documents as views on sets of individual requirements and specific traceability relations on and between all of these representation layers. Different types of relations and their dependencies are investigated with a special focus on requirement reuse through standards and formalized in an Object-Role Modelling (ORM) conceptual model. Automated analyses of requirement graphs based on this model are able to reveal document inconsistencies. We show examples of such queries in Neo4J/Cypher for the EagleEye case study. This work aims to be a step toward a better support to handle highly complex requirement document dependencies in large projects with a special focus on requirements reuse and to enable automated quality checks on dependent documents to facilitate requirements reviews.
Associations of CXCL12 polymorphisms with clinicopathological features in breast cancer: a case-control study
Authors: Lin Shuai , Zheng Yi , Wang Meng , Zhou Linghui , Zhu Yuyao , Deng Yujiao , Wu Ying , Zhang Dai , Li Na , Kang Huafeng , Dai Zhijun 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Background
Previous studies suggested that CXCL12 was involved in the development, metastasis, and invasion of breast cancer, and genetic variants were associated with the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with breast cancer. The present study was aimed to assess the relationships between CXCL12 polymorphisms (rs1801157, rs2297630, and rs2839693) and susceptibility and clinicopathological features of breast cancer.

Methods
A case-control study was conducted in 434 breast cancer patients and 450 health controls. Student t-test and chi-square test were used to analyze the differences of age distribution and genotype frequencies between the two groups. Correlations between polymorphisms and clinical parameters were also assessed by chi-square test. The potential effects of the three polymorphisms on CXCL12 were investigated by the public database.

Results
A statistical association was found between CXCL12 rs1801157 polymorphism and breast cancer risk, possibility of metastasis, and estrogen receptor status. Patients with rs2839693 C/T or C/T-T/T genotypes were more likely to be progesterone receptor-negative. However, no associations of rs2297630 polymorphism with breast cancer risk or any clinicopathological characteristics were observed. In addition, rs2297630 affected the splicing quantitative trait loci of CXCL12 in the subcutaneous fat, rs2839693 polymorphism affected the splicing quantitative trait loci of CXCL12 in the human breast mammary tissues.

Conclusions
Those results indicated that CXCL12 polymorphisms might be potential diagnostic indicators, and more investigation is needed in the future.
What is Functional Communication? A Theoretical Framework for Real-World Communication Applied to Aphasia Rehabilitation
Authors: Doedens W.J. , Meteyard L. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractAphasia is an impairment of language caused by acquired brain damage such as stroke or traumatic brain injury, that affects a person’s ability to communicate effectively. The aim of rehabilitation in aphasia is to improve everyday communication, improving an individual’s ability to function in their day-to-day life. For that reason, a thorough understanding of naturalistic communication and its underlying mechanisms is imperative. The field of aphasiology currently lacks an agreed, comprehensive, theoretically founded definition of communication. Instead, multiple disparate interpretations of functional communication are used. We argue that this makes it nearly impossible to validly and reliably assess a person’s communicative performance, to target this behaviour through therapy, and to measure improvements post-therapy. In this article we propose a structured, theoretical approach to defining the concept of functional communication. We argue for a view of communication as “situated language use”, borrowed from empirical psycholinguistic studies with non-brain damaged adults. This framework defines language use as: (1) interactive, (2) multimodal, and (3) contextual. Existing research on each component of the framework from non-brain damaged adults and people with aphasia is reviewed. The consequences of adopting this approach to assessment and therapy for aphasia rehabilitation are discussed. The aim of this article is to encourage a more systematic, comprehensive approach to the study and treatment of situated language use in aphasia.
Mining patterns of transitional growth using multivariate concept-based models
Authors: Bartak Jakub , Jastrzębska Agnieszka 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThe relationship between income and growth rates has been an elementary problem of research on economic convergence. In the present paper, we study growth-income paths in a new perspective. We assess the similarities of transitional growth trajectories with the use of novel concept-based model. Further, we group economies on the basis of the assessed similarities and we evaluate within-group growth-income relationships. The obtained results point to distinct patterns of development, which help to understand the puzzles of absolute convergence and divergence. Among others, we find evidence of a humped-shaped path of long-run transitional growth. Simultaneously, we identify countries which got stuck in poverty and in the middle-income trap.
What matters in educational performance? Evidence from OECD and non-OECD countries
Authors: Barra Cristian , Boccia Marinella 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to investigate the determinants of school performance measured by the average value of students’ test scores at the school level. PISA data (2000–2012) are used to explore this relationship. A multivariate regression and a quantile and multilevel regression are employed in order to perform the analysis considering both the total sample and grouping for OECD countries and non-OECD countries. The results show that, considering the entire sample and only the OECD countries, school performance is positively driven by student fees, the presence of girls, and computers; the mother’s education also plays an important role, while the father’s education is notable only at a high level and negative otherwise. The results are robust to a battery of robustness checks.
Geoengineering characteristics modeling of Eocene limestone beds of the upper plateau of Mokattam area, Egypt using GIS techniques
Authors: Elgohary Ahmed , Saad Ahmed M. , Sakr Mohamed A. H. , Omar Ali E. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThis research paper is concerned with studying and evaluating the geoengineering characteristics and potential risks of the area under study with a view to safe urban expansion using GIS techniques. Different geotechnical laboratory tests such Atterberg limits, free swelling test, swell potential and pressure tests, chemical analysis, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and rock quality designation (RQD) were performed on 28 boreholes (95 samples). Furthermore, X-ray diffraction was used to examine clay minerals. The results indicate that the UCS values range from 47 to 72.2 kg/cm2 and RQD from 21 to 45%. The free swell ratio ranges from 110 to 120%, and the plasticity index from 34 to 37%. In addition, GIS techniques have been utilized to produce the distribution layers of different geotechnical characteristics, then integrated to produce a geospatial urban model for delineating and defining safe and dangerous urban zones. This model is classified into four classes: low, moderate, high and very high hazard. Low and moderate hazards were detected in the major portion of the survey area. These portions are suitable for foundations at shallow depths. However, high to very high hazards were detected in the southeast portion of the study area. The reason for these areas is caused by the existence of heavily fractured limestone and highly swelling clay layers. This model would aid in the creation and discovery of the best areas of shallow base in the region under consideration.
The rising of old foes: impact of lockdown periods on “non-SARS-CoV-2” viral respiratory and gastrointestinal infections
Authors: Maison Nicole , Peck Ana , Illi Sabina , Meyer-Buehn Melanie , von Mutius Erika , Hübner Johannes , von Both Ulrich 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Background
During COVID-19-related public health non-pharmaceutical prevention measures, such as social distancing, lockdown periods and use of face masks, a decrease in viral respiratory and gastroenterological infections was observed worldwide. Following discontinuation of preventative measures, a potential increase of respective infections outside of their usual seasons was a matter of concern.

Method
We aimed to illustrate annual distribution of confirmed viral infections between 2017 and 2021 based on 32,506 clinical samples in a German pediatric tertiary care center and to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology of these infections in children.

Results
While a decrease in overall viral infections was observed during the first and second lockdown period, an extraordinary increase in the number of viral respiratory infections, predominantly caused by human Rhino-/Enterovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), was observed after relaxation of preventive measures. Notably, Rhino-/Enterovirus infections increased 4-fold (2020 vs. 2019) and 16-fold (2021 vs. 2019). The occurrence of RSV was observed beginning from June to August 2021 and reached an all-time record with a 25- to 50-fold increase in numbers in September and October 2021 in relation to previous pre-pandemic years (2017–2019). In contrast, for non-respiratory viruses (i.e. Rota-/Norovirus), the effect on respective seasonal patterns was only minimal compared to previous years.

Conclusion
The observed increase in respiratory infections in children is worrying and is already causing hospitals to become overburdened. Enhanced vigilance will be key to face clinical challenges due to these epidemiological changes in viral disease patterns in the months to come.
Decision-making methods based on fuzzy soft competition hypergraphs
Authors: Akram Muhammad , Shahzadi Sundas , Rasool Areen , Sarwar Musavarah 
Published: January 2022

AbstractFuzzy soft set theory is an effective framework that is utilized to determine the uncertainty and plays a major role to identify vague objects in a parametric manner. The existing methods to discuss the competitive relations among objects have some limitations due to the existence of different types of uncertainties in a single mathematical structure. In this research article, we define a novel framework of fuzzy soft hypergraphs that export the qualities of fuzzy soft sets to hypergraphs. The effectiveness of competition methods is enhanced with the novel notion of fuzzy soft competition hypergraphs. We study certain types of fuzzy soft competition hypergraphs to illustrate different relations in a directed fuzzy soft network using the concepts of height, depth, union, and intersection simultaneously. We introduce the notions of fuzzy soft k-competition hypergraphs and fuzzy soft neighborhood hypergraphs. We design certain algorithms to compute the strength of competition in fuzzy soft directed graphs that reduce the calculation complexity of existing fuzzy-based non-parameterized models. We analyze the significance of our proposed theory with a decision-making problem. Finally, we present graphical, numerical, as well as theoretical comparison analysis with existing methods that endorse the applicability and advantages of our proposed approach.
Money Laundering and Asset Recovery in Paraguay
Authors: Fernández Zacur José Miguel 
Published: January 2022

AbstractMoney laundering repression and asset recovery are tools that share a very relevant preventive–general role. Both measures in Criminal Law seek to inhibit the monetary stimulus to commit offenses. The former does so by hampering the flow of earnings from illicit sources, and the latter by confiscating the earnings from their beneficiaries. These interlinked goals prove to be most useful from a criminal policy standpoint in the fight against organized crime since they are oriented to the economic disabling of their agents, blockading their financial movement and depriving them of the profits thus generated. This article explains the status of Paraguayan law and its application on these issues.
Juvenile Justice System, Reforms and Policing System in India: Origin, Dialectics, Comparisons, and Way Forward
Authors: Sharma Suhail 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThis article studies the juvenile justice system in juxtaposition to policing in India. To start with, it conducts a comprehensive data analysis of juvenile crimes in India in the last two decades. The author conducted a study involving 400 juveniles in conflict with the law through “Disha,” a project in juvenile re-entry systems. It further marshals the incidences based on social parameters like education, age, and family. Here, the paper impresses upon the “heinousness factor” of the crimes to evaluate the law and institutional response. The article examines the growth of the legal framework on juvenile justice in India and the causal determinants which may have driven its increase. It also scrutinizes the policing systems as far as the legal framework on juvenile justice makes them responsible. It delves deeply into the interactions between juvenile justice and police systems at the institutional and procedural levels. It conducts a detailed inquiry into the international legal framework of juvenile justice systems. Here, it studies such systems in the Americas, Europe, and Asia to suggest the way forward for a transparent, robust and sensitive juvenile justice system in India.
Iterative estimation of mixed exponential random graph models with nodal random effects
Authors: Kevork S. , Kauermann G. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThe presence of unobserved node-specific heterogeneity in exponential random graph models (ERGM) is a general concern, both with respect to model validity as well as estimation instability. We, therefore, include node-specific random effects in the ERGM that account for unobserved heterogeneity in the network. This leads to a mixed model with parametric as well as random coefficients, labelled as mixed ERGM. Estimation is carried out by iterating between approximate pseudolikelihood estimation for the random effects and maximum likelihood estimation for the remaining parameters in the model. This approach provides a stable algorithm, which allows to fit nodal heterogeneity effects even for large scale networks. We also propose model selection based on the Akaike Information Criterion to check for node-specific heterogeneity.
Variational inference as an alternative to MCMC for parameter estimation and model selection
Authors: Gunapati Geetakrishnasai , Jain Anirudh , Srijith P. K. , Desai Shantanu 
Published: January 2022

AbstractMost applications of Bayesian Inference for parameter estimation and model selection in astrophysics involve the use of Monte Carlo techniques such as Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) and nested sampling. However, these techniques are time-consuming and their convergence to the posterior could be difficult to determine. In this study, we advocate variational inference as an alternative to solve the above problems, and demonstrate its usefulness for parameter estimation and model selection in astrophysics. Variational inference converts the inference problem into an optimisation problem by approximating the posterior from a known family of distributions and using Kullback–Leibler divergence to characterise the difference. It takes advantage of fast optimisation techniques, which make it ideal to deal with large datasets and makes it trivial to parallelise on a multicore platform. We also derive a new approximate evidence estimation based on variational posterior, and importance sampling technique called posterior-weighted importance sampling for the calculation of evidence, which is useful to perform Bayesian model selection. As a proof of principle, we apply variational inference to five different problems in astrophysics, where Monte Carlo techniques were previously used. These include assessment of significance of annual modulation in the COSINE-100 dark matter experiment, measuring exoplanet orbital parameters from radial velocity data, tests of periodicities in measurements of Newton’s constantG, assessing the significance of a turnover in the spectral lag data of GRB 160625B, and estimating the mass of a galaxy cluster using weak gravitational lensing. We find that variational inference is much faster than MCMC and nested sampling techniques for most of these problems while providing competitive results. All our analysis codes have been made publicly available.
USING SEDIMENTOLOGICAL PRIORS TO IMPROVE 14C CALIBRATION OF BIOTURBATED SEDIMENT ARCHIVES
Authors: Lougheed Bryan C 
Published: January 2022

ABSTRACTRadiocarbon (14C) dating is often carried out upon multi-specimen samples sourced from bioturbated sediment archives, such as deep-sea sediment. These samples are inherently heterogeneous in age, but existing 14C calibration techniques were originally developed for age homogeneous material, such as archaeological artifacts or individual tree rings. A lack of information about age heterogeneity leads to a systematic underestimation of a sample’s true age range, as well as the possible generation of significant age-depth artifacts during periods of the Earth’s history coinciding with highly dynamic atmospheric Δ14C. Here, a new calibration protocol is described that allows for the application of sedimentological priors describing sediment accumulation rate, bioturbation depth and temporally dynamic species abundance. This Bayesian approach produces a credible calibrated age distribution associated with a particular laboratory 14C determination and its associated sedimentological priors, resulting in an improved calibration, especially in the case of low sediment accumulation rates typical of deep-sea sediment. A time-optimized computer script (biocal) for the new calibration protocol is also presented, thus allowing for rapid and automated application of the new calibration protocol. This new calibration protocol could be applied within existing age-depth modeling software packages to produce more accurate geochronologies for bioturbated sediment archives.