bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The sit-to-stand test as a patient-centered functional outcome for critical care research: a pooled analysis of five international rehabilitation studies
Authors: O’Grady Heather K. , Edbrooke Lara , Farley Christopher , Berney Sue , Denehy Linda , Puthucheary Zudin , Kho Michelle E. ,   the International METRIC Critical Care Data Group, Ball Ian , Burns Karen , Clarke France , Cook Deborah , Costigan Aileen , Fox-Robichaud Alison , Gordon Ian , Haines Kimberley , Herridge Margaret , Karachi Tim , Lo Vincent , MacDonell Alexandra , Mathur Sunita , Molloy Alexander , Needham Dale , Pastva Amy , Reid Julie , Rochwerg Bram , Rose Joleen , Rudkowski Jill , Seely Andrew 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
With ICU mortality rates decreasing, it is increasingly important to identify interventions to minimize functional impairments and improve outcomes for survivors. Simultaneously, we must identify robust patient-centered functional outcomes for our trials. Our objective was to investigate the clinimetric properties of a progression of three outcome measures, from strength to function.

Methods
Adults (≥ 18 years) enrolled in five international ICU rehabilitation studies. Participants required ICU admission were mechanically ventilated and previously independent. Outcomes included two components of the Physical Function in ICU Test-scored (PFIT-s): knee extensor strength and assistance required to move from sit to stand (STS); the 30-s STS (30 s STS) test was the third outcome. We analyzed survivors at ICU and hospital discharge. We report participant demographics, baseline characteristics, and outcome data using descriptive statistics. Floor effects represented ≥ 15% of participants with minimum score and ceiling effects ≥ 15% with maximum score. We calculated the overall group difference score (hospital discharge score minus ICU discharge) for participants with paired assessments.

Results
Of 451 participants, most were male (n = 278, 61.6%) with a median age between 60 and 66 years, a mean APACHE II score between 19 and 24, a median duration of mechanical ventilation between 4 and 8 days, ICU length of stay (LOS) between 7 and 11 days, and hospital LOS between 22 and 31 days. For knee extension, we observed a ceiling effect in 48.5% (160/330) of participants at ICU discharge and in 74.7% (115/154) at hospital discharge; the median [1st, 3rd quartile] PFIT-s difference score (n = 139) was 0 [0,1] (p < 0.05). For STS assistance, we observed a ceiling effect in 45.9% (150/327) at ICU discharge and in 77.5% (79/102) at hospital discharge; the median PFIT-s difference score (n = 87) was 1 [0, 2] (p < 0.05). For 30 s STS, we observed a floor effect in 15.0% (12/80) at ICU discharge but did not observe a floor or ceiling effect at hospital discharge. The median 30 s STS difference score (n = 54) was 3 [1, 6] (p < 0.05).

Conclusion
Among three progressive outcome measures evaluated in this study, the 30 s STS test appears to have the most favorable clinimetric properties to assess function at ICU and hospital discharge in moderate to severely ill participants.
Heteroplasmic mitochondrial genomes of a Raillietina tapeworm in wild Pangolin
Authors: Tuli Merga Daba , Li Hongyi , Pan Xi , Li Song , Zhai Junqiong , Wu Yajiang , Chen Wu , Huang Wanyi , Feng Yaoyu , Xiao Lihua , Yuan Dongjuan 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
Raillietina species belong to the family Davaineidae, which parasitizes in a wide variety of mammals and birds, causing stunted growth, lethargy, emaciation, and digestive tract obstruction. However, only a limited number of Raillietina species have been identified in wild animals.

Methods
We analyzed and annotated the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of a worm from the intestine of a wild pangolin using Illumina sequencing of whole genomic DNA.

Results
These findings showed the presence of two mtDNA sequences in Raillietina sp., designated as mt1 and mt2, with the lengths of 14,331 bp and 14,341 bp, respectively. Both the mts genomes of Raillietina sp. comprised 36 genes, containing 12 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNAs, and 22 transfer RNAs. Gene arrangements of both mt genomes of Raillietina sp. were similar to those of most flatworms, except for taeniids, which shift positions between tRNAL1 and tRNAS2 genes. Twenty of 22 tRNA secondary structures of Raillietina sp. had a typical cloverleaf structure similar to Raillietina tetragona. Sequence differences between the mt1 and mt2 genomes were 4.4%, and this difference arises from the mtDNA heteroplasmic mutations. Moreover, heteroplasmic mtDNA mutations were detected in PCGs, tRNAs, rRNAs, NCRs, and intergenes, but the highest proportion of heteroplasmy of 79.0% was detected in PCGs, indicating the occurrence of mtDNA heteroplasmy in Raillietina sp. To our knowledge, this is the first report of mtDNA heteroplasmy in tapeworm parasites. Phylogenetic analyses of 18S rRNA, ITS2, and 12 PCG sequences demonstrated that the worm was clustered with other Raillietina species in the Davaneidae family.

Conclusions
We found a novel Raillietina species in wild pangolin with the existence of mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy. Thus, these findings provide insights into the heterogeneity of the mt genome in parasitic cestodes, and mt genome data contributes to the understanding of pangolin-parasitic cestodes in terms of their molecular biology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and taxonomy.

Graphical Abstract
Effect of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors on risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with axial spondyloarthritis
Authors: Kwon Oh Chan , Park Min-Chan 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We aimed to evaluate the effect of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis) on the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with axSpA.

Methods
This retrospective study included 450 patients with axSpA without pre-existing cardiovascular disease. The outcome was incident cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction or stroke) after the diagnosis of axSpA. The effect of TNFis on cardiovascular risk was analyzed in the total study population and in an inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW)-adjusted population. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for cardiovascular disease, according to exposure to TNFis.

Results
Of the 450 patients, 233 (51.8%) and 217 (48.2%) patients were and were not exposed to TNFis, respectively. Twenty cardiovascular diseases occurred during 2868 person-years of follow-up (incidence rate: 6.97/1000 person-years). In the total study population, exposure to TNFis was associated with a reduced cardiovascular risk when adjusted for traditional cardiovascular risk factors (HR 0.30, 95% CI 0.10–0.85, p = 0.024). However, when time-averaged erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were additionally adjusted, this association was attenuated and lost statistical significance (HR 0.37, 95% CI 0.12–1.12, p = 0.077). Furthermore, in the IPTW-adjusted population, exposure to TNFis showed no significant reduction in cardiovascular risk (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.23–1.54, p = 0.287).

Conclusions
Although controlling inflammation through TNFis could be beneficial in cardiovascular risk reduction, our data indicate no TNFi-specific reduction in cardiovascular risk in patients with axSpA.
Prehospital portable ultrasound for safe and accurate prehospital needle thoracostomy: a pilot educational study
Authors: Dewar Zachary E. , Ko Stephanie , Rogers Cameron , Oropallo Alexis , Augustine Andrew , Pamula Ankitha , Berry Christopher L. 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
Simulated needle thoracostomy (NT) using ultrasound may reduce potential injury, increase accuracy, and be as rapid to perform as the traditional landmark technique following a brief educational session. Our objective was to determine if the use of an educational session demonstrating the use of handheld ultrasound to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff to facilitate NT was both feasible, and an effective way of increasing the safety and efficacy of this procedure for rural EMS providers.

Methods
A pre/post-educational intervention on a convenience sample of rural North American EMS paramedics and nurses. Measurement of location and estimated depth of placement of needle thoracostomy with traditional landmark technique was completed and then repeated using handheld ultrasound following a training session on thoracic ultrasound and correct placement of NT.

Results
A total of 30 EMS practitioners participated. Seven were female (23.3%). There was a higher frequency of dangerous structures underlying the chosen location with the landmark technique 9/60 (15%) compared to the ultrasound technique 1/60 (1.7%) (p = 0.08). Mean time-to-site-selection for the landmark technique was shorter than the ultrasound technique at 10.7 s (range 3.35–45 s) vs. 19.9 s (range 7.8–50 s), respectively (p < 0.001). There was a lower proportion of correct location selection for the landmark technique 40/60 (66.7%) when compared to the ultrasound technique 51/60 (85%) (p = 0.019). With ultrasound, there was less variance between the estimated and measured depth of the pleural space with a mean difference of 0.033 cm (range 0–0.5 cm) when ultrasound was used as compared to a mean difference of 1.0375 cm (range 0–6 cm) for the landmark technique (95% CI for the difference 0.73–1.27 cm; p < 0.001).

Conclusions
Teaching ultrasound NT was feasible in our cohort. While time-to-site-selection for ultrasound-guided NT took longer than the landmark technique, it increased safe and accurate simulated NT placement with fewer identified potential iatrogenic injuries.
Orf1B controls secretion of T3SS proteins and contributes to Edwardsiella piscicida adhesion to epithelial cells
Authors: Wang Long Kun , Sun Shan Shan , Zhang Shu Ya , Nie Pin , Xie Hai Xia 
Published: June 2022

AbstractEdwardsiella piscicida is a Gram-negative enteric pathogen that causes hemorrhagic septicemia in fish. The type III secretion system (T3SS) is one of its two most important virulence islands. T3SS protein EseJ inhibits E. piscicida adhesion to epithelioma papillosum cyprini (EPC) cells by negatively regulating type 1 fimbria. Type 1 fimbria helps E. piscicida to adhere to fish epithelial cells. In this study, we characterized a functional unknown protein (Orf1B) encoded within the T3SS gene cluster of E. piscicida. This protein consists of 122 amino acids, sharing structural similarity with YscO in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Orf1B controls secretion of T3SS translocon and effectors in E. piscicida. By immunoprecipitation, Orf1B was shown to interact with T3SS ATPase EsaN. This interaction may contribute to the assembly of the ATPase complex, which energizes the secretion of T3SS proteins. Moreover, disruption of Orf1B dramatically decreased E. piscicida adhesion to EPC cells due to the increased steady-state protein level of EseJ within E. piscicida. Taken together, this study partially unraveled the mechanisms through which Orf1B promotes secretion of T3SS proteins and contributes to E. piscicida adhesion. This study helps to improve our understanding on molecular mechanism of E. piscicida pathogenesis.
The role of co-infections in M. hyopneumoniae outbreaks among heavy fattening pigs: a field study
Authors: Tonni Matteo , Formenti Nicoletta , Boniotti M. Beatrice , Guarneri Flavia , Scali Federico , Romeo Claudia , Pasquali Paolo , Pieters Maria , Maes Dominiek , Alborali Giovanni L. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractLittle is known about how co-infections and genotype dynamics affectMycoplasma hyopneumoniaeinfection in fattening pigs. This study was aimed at assessing the role of co-infections inM. hyopneumoniaeoutbreaks, their influence on the presence ofM. hyopneumoniaegenotypes and their impact on consequent lung lesions. Tracheobronchial swabs (TBS) from 300 finishers were collected from 10 farms at the onset of enzootic pneumonia outbreaks and 1 month later, sampling of 3 groups per farm: Group A showed clinical signs first, Group B was housed near Group A, and Group C was located in a different building. Pigs’ lungs were scored at the slaughterhouse. TBS were tested for the main pathogens involved in respiratory diseases, and samples positive forM. hyopneumoniaewere genotyped by multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). Pigs in Group A showed the highest prevalence and load ofM. hyopneumoniae. A positive association was detected betweenM. hyopneumoniaeandMycoplasma hyorhinis, whereasActinobacillus pleuropneumoniaewas more frequent when theM. hyopneumoniaeload was higher. Nevertheless, co-infection had no effect on lung lesion scores. The presence of multiple MLVA types (mixed infections) increased in time only in pigs from Group C and was positively associated with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection. Lung lesions were more severe in pigs with at least one TBS positive forM. hyopneumoniaeand in pigs with a history of mixed infections. The central role ofM. hyopneumoniaeand relevance of mixed infections suggest that increased biosecurity might be beneficial for lung lesion sequelae.
A robust power allocation strategy based on benefit–cost ratio for multiple target guidance in the C-MIMO radar system under blanket jamming
Authors: Li Zhengjie , Xie Junwei , Zhang Haowei , Ge Jiaang , Qi Cheng 
Published: June 2022

AbstractHow to utilize the limited power budget to accurately track more targets plays a critical role for the radar system in air defense applications, especially in the weapon guidance application. In this paper, we propose a robust power allocation (RPA) strategy in the collocated multiple-input and multiple-output (C-MIMO) radar system for multiple target guidance (MTG) under blanket jamming. The optimization model is established with the aim of increasing the number of effective tracking targets (ETTs) and improving the overall tracking accuracy among those targets. Since the mutual information (MI) quantifies the parameter estimation performance and can be predicted, the MI under blanket jamming is derived and utilized as the optimization criterion. We then propose a two-step optimization algorithm based on benefit–cost ratio (BCR) to solve the non-convex problem. Finally, numerical results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Probabilistic cooperative coded forwarding for broadcast transmissions in industrial mobile edge communications
Authors: Huang Wenjun , Li Xu , Liang Yanan 
Published: June 2022

AbstractMobile edge computing (MEC) is considered as a key enabler for the industrial internet of things (IIoT) to cope with the ever-increasing communication and computing demands of nodes. In consideration of the limited resource of the IIoT nodes, it is necessary to design cost-effective multi-hop data transmission schemes for mobile edge IIoTs. However, most of the traditional schemes have to spend enormous cost to meet the reliability requirement, which cannot support timely information processing of MEC-based IIoT. In this article, the probabilistic cooperative coded forwarding (PCCF) scheme for multi-hop data transmission in mobile edge IIoTs is proposed to address the above problem. First, the data packets are encoded at a source IIoT node using the systematic sparse network coding (SSNC) mechanism, then the source broadcasts the coded packets to its one-hop neighbors. To minimize the required number of redundant coded packets, the sparsity of coded packets is optimized. Second, the nodes which received the packets will become volunteer relay nodes and forward the coded packets using the cooperative coded forwarding (CCF) mechanism. The volunteer relays first forward the received coded packets with a forwarding probability, and then re-encode a pair of received coded packets and broadcast the re-encoded packet with a re-encoding probability. To guarantee the broadcast performance while minimizing the transmission number at relay nodes, the feasible forwarding and re-encoding probability are provided. Third, the receiver nodes will try to decode the received coded and re-encoded packets and recover data packets without sending acknowledgments. Finally, through a series of experiments, we verify the accuracy of analytical approximations and also find out the optimal sparsity of coded packets and the existence of minimum transmission numbers. These provide insights for further optimization of multi-hop data transmission in mobile edge IIoTs.
A relational-theoretic approach to get solution of nonlinear matrix equations
Authors: Nashine Hemant Kumar , Jain Reena , Parvaneh Vahid 
Published: June 2022

AbstractIn this study, we consider a nonlinear matrix equation of the form $\mathcal{X}= \mathcal{Q} + \sum_{i=1}^{m} \mathcal{A}_{i}^{*} \mathcal{G} (\mathcal{X})\mathcal{A}_{i}$
X
=
Q
+

∑

i
=
1

m

A
i
∗

G
(
X
)

A
i

, where $\mathcal{Q}$
Q
is a Hermitian positive definite matrix, $\mathcal{A}_{i}^{*}$

A
i
∗

stands for the conjugate transpose of an $n\times n$
n
×
n
matrix $\mathcal{A}_{i}$

A
i

, and $\mathcal{G}$
G
is an order-preserving continuous mapping from the set of all Hermitian matrices to the set of all positive definite matrices such that $\mathcal{G}(O)=O$
G
(
O
)
=
O
. We discuss sufficient conditions that ensure the existence of a unique positive definite solution of the given matrix equation. For this, we derive some fixed point results for Suzuki-FG contractive mappings on metric spaces (not necessarily complete) endowed with arbitrary binary relation (not necessarily a partial order). We provide adequate examples to validate the fixed-point results and the importance of related work, and the convergence analysis of nonlinear matrix equations through an illustration with graphical representations.
Prognostic and tumor immunity implication of inflammatory bowel disease-associated genes in colorectal cancer
Authors: Wang Di , Xie Biao 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
Epidemiologic studies continue to emphasize that increasing patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) develop to colorectal cancer (CRC). Although the function and mechanisms of IBD-associated genes (IBDGs) in CRC tumorigenesis have been extensively researched, the implications of IBDGs in the prognosis value and tumor immunity of CRC remain unclear.

Results
In this study, the expression, pathological stages and prognostic value of IBDGs in CRC were systematically analyzed, and 7 prognostic genes including CDH1, CCL11, HLA–DRA, NOS2, NAT2, TIMP1 and TP53 were screened through LASSO–Cox regression analysis. Then, a prognostic signature was established based on the 7 prognostic genes, and the model exhibited a good ability in risk stratification of CRC patients. Subsequent results showed that the genetic alterations of the 7 prognostic genes exhibited more significant and extensive influence on immune cells infiltration in colon adenocarcinoma than that in rectal adenocarcinoma. Meanwhile, immune cells infiltration also showed a significant difference between low-risk group and high-risk group. What’s more, 7 prognostic genes-based risk stratification was associated with microsatellite instability, and its prognostic characteristics were significantly negatively correlated with mismatch repair genes.

Conclusions
This study provided a promising insight that the 7 IBDGs could be used as valuable biomarkers for prognostic diagnosis and personalized immunotherapy of CRC patients.
Image guidance system use amongst Canadian otolaryngologists: A nationwide survey
Authors: McHugh T. , Sommer D. D. , Thamboo A. , Tewfik M. A. , Smith K. A. 
Published: June 2022

Background The use of image guidance systems has gained widespread acceptance as an adjunctive tool for endoscopic sinus surgery. However, the accessibility and usage of this technology is variable across hospitals in Canada. Study objective The aim of this study is to investigate the availability, usage, and related issues surrounding the use of image guidance systems in endoscopic sinus surgery across Canadian otolaryngology practice settings. Methods An online survey was electronically distributed to practicing otolaryngologists across Canada. The survey contained 27 questions pertaining to the availability, usage, barriers and overall experience of image guidance systems. Results The survey was electronically sent to a total of 654 Canadian otolaryngologists of which 158 responded (response rate 24.2%). Image guidance was available to 56.3% of respondents. Of the respondents without access to IGS, 85.5% indicated they would use it if it was available. Financial (capital cost) was identified as the most important barrier in obtaining IGS by 76.3% of respondents. Conclusion Over half of Canadian otolaryngologists have access to IGS with over 85% of those without access interested in using it if it was made available. A multitude of different factors contribute to this disparity. We hope that the results of this study will help support Canadian otolaryngologists to access IGS. Graphical Abstract
Apatite in Hamipterus tianshanensis eggshell: advances in understanding the structure of pterosaur eggs by Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Li Ying , Zhu Xufeng , Wang Qiang , Jiang Shunxing , Yang Yimin , Luo Wugan , Wang Xiaolin 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Pterosaur eggs can offer information about pterosaur reproductive strategies and are extremely precious because only a small number of specimens have been discovered. Previous studies have mainly focused on morphological descriptions of pterosaur eggs and their embryos while the chemical composition of pterosaur eggs has received little attention. The conventional view believed that the eggshell was composed of calcite. However, previous SEM–EDS results for Hamipterus tianshanensis showed that the eggshell contains phosphorus. Therefore, the object of this research is to determine the mineral composition of the eggshell of H. tianshanensis. Two eggs were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM–EDS) and Raman spectroscopy. The SEM–EDS results show that both surface and cross section are porous and characterized by small irregularly shaped particulates. Moreover, the distribution of Ca and P has a strict coincidence in the cross-section of eggshells. Furthermore, neither the intense peaks of calcite nor organic peaks can be observed by Raman spectroscopy in eggshells. Meanwhile, the Raman spectroscopy mapping analysis result shows a sharp and intense peak at approximately 966 cm−1 among the white eggshell, which can be hard evidence that H. tianshanensis eggs are mainly composed of calcium phosphate. Combined with the present of F in the eggshell, it can be inferred that fluorapatite Ca5(PO4)3F is the main mineral. The fluorapatite eggshell can be interpreted in two ways. One explanation is that H. tianshanensis laid apatite-shelled eggs, similar to living Salvator merianae, and the bioapatite transformed to fluorapatite over geological time. Another possible explanation is that the fluorapatite comes from the result of phosphatization of soft egg membrane tissues through taphonomic processes, indicating that H. tianshanensis might have laid soft eggs. Regardless, the results show that fluorapatite, rather than calcite is the main preserved mineral composition of H. tianshanensis eggshell, correcting the previous view. This study contributes to the present understanding of the mineral composition of pterosaur eggshells and may offer some insight into the pterosaur reproduction pattern.