bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Associations Between Alanine Aminotransferase and Other Biochemical Parameters in Lean PCOS
Authors: Liu Cai , Liu Kai , Zhao Xiao , Zhu Junhua , Liu Yang , Hao Lina , Gao Yanyun , Liu Peng 
Published: July 2022

AbstractTo explore the associations of alanine aminotransferase in lean women of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with other biochemical parameters and the potential risk factors. This is a retrospective cohort study with lean PCOS (n = 91) and healthy controls (n = 45); we reviewed the electrical records and databases of the PCOS patients in our infertility clinic between January 2019 and September 2021; independent t-test, linear correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression were used to explore the associations. Higher levels of luteinizing hormone, total testosterone, thyroid stimulating hormone, platelet count, lymphocyte count, homocysteine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and uric acid were identified in lean PCOS patients, while follicle-stimulating hormone level was lower in in lean PCOS as expected (P < 0.05). Of note, the linear correlation showed that BMI, total testosterone, white blood cell count, lymphocyte count, aspartate aminotransferase, and uric acid were positively associated with alanine aminotransferase (r = 0.232, 0.318, 0.218, 0.388, 0.602, 0.353 respectively, P < 0.05). After multiple linear regression was performed, total testosterone and aspartate aminotransferase were independently and positively correlated with alanine aminotransferase in lean PCOS (B = 0.251, 0.605 respectively, P < 0.05). Higher level of ALT was identified in the lean PCOS. BMI, white blood cell count, lymphocyte count, aspartate aminotransferase, uric acid, and total testosterone were positively correlated with ALT in lean PCOS. Total testosterone and aspartate aminotransferase were independently and positively associated with ALT in lean PCOS after multiple linear regression. There might exist a potential risk of afflicting liver impairment for the lean PCOS women in the earlier period. Early examination and intervention might be necessary to prevent or delay the progression of the liver disease as soon as the diagnosis of PCOS.
Quasi-Banach modulation spaces and localization operators on locally compact abelian groups
Authors: Bastianoni Federico , Cordero Elena 
Published: July 2022

AbstractWe introduce new quasi-Banach modulation spaces on locally compact abelian groups which coincide with the classical ones in the Banach setting and prove their main properties. Then, we study Gabor frames on quasi-lattices, significantly extending the original theory introduced by Gröchenig and Strohmer. These issues are the key tools in showing boundedness results for Kohn–Nirenberg and localization operators on modulation spaces and studying their eigenfunctions’ properties. In particular, the results in the Euclidean space are recaptured.
Sexual Dysfunctions Among People Living with HIV With Long-Term Treatment with Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Scanavino Marco De Tubino , Mori Emi , Nisida Vera Vichr , Avelino-Silva Vivian I. , Amaral Maria Luiza Sant'ana do , Messina Bruna , Segurado Aluisio Cotrim 
Published: July 2022

AbstractIntroductionSexuality plays an essential role in the psychosocial well-being of people living with HIV (PLHIV) but it is still less assessed by healthcare professionals during treatment.AimTo investigate the frequency of those screening positive for sexual dysfunction (SD) and associated factors according to gender/sexual orientation in PLHIV under long-term treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART).MethodsBetween September 2013 and October 2016, 234 PLHIV adults in treatment in São Paulo were included. Participants were sexually active, did not present sexual orientation disorder or body dysmorphic disorder, and did not use sexual hormones. We performed clinical interviews and measured levels of depression, anxiety, and levels of sexual hormones. SD was assessed using a self-report questionnaire.Main Outcome MeasuresProportion of participants screening positive for SD in the International Index of Erectile Function, the Index of Premature Ejaculation, and the Female Sexual Function Index. In the regression analyses, the outcome SD considered any SD presented with disregard to gender.Results70% of participants reported consistent adherence to ART and 96% had an undetectable viral load. The median (Md) duration of ART was 198 months (inter quartil range, IQR 111.6–230.4) and the median CD4 was 655 cells/mm3 (IQR 443–871). Screening positive for erectile dysfunction was 49.7%, premature ejaculation 16.9%, female sexual dysfunction 27.4% and hypoactive desire 45.1%. Lower testosterone and prolactin levels were associated with erectile dysfunction in heterosexual men (n = 58); lower levels of oestradiol and higher levels of follicle stimulating hormone were associated with female sexual dysfunction and hypoactive desire in female participants (n = 63). The multivariable model used included comorbidities and hormonal abnormality and found that age (odds ratio, OR = 1.04, 95% confidence interval, 95%CI 1.00–1.08, P = .026) and the presence of depression/anxiety (OR = 2.96; 95%CI 1.52–5.77; P = .001) were associated with SD. Also, men reporting engaging in sex with other men were associated with screening positive for SD (OR 2.66; 95%CI 1.52–5.77, P = .013).During treatment of PLHIV, it is important to evaluate sexual health and symptoms of depression and anxiety specifically.The strength of this study consists in evaluating PLHIV who have been in long-term treatment with ART and analyzing those screening positive for SD and associated factors for each group (heterosexual men, men reporting engaging in sex with other men, and women). Limitation includes the difficulty to generalize the findings of the study, and not exploring women's sexual orientation.ConclusionPLHIV in long-term treatment with ART presented alarming rates of depression/anxiety which in turn is correlated with sexual and physical health problems.
Sexual Activity, Function and Dysfunction After a Diagnosis of Bladder Cancer
Authors: Jubber Ibrahim , Rogers Zoe , Catto James WF , Bottomley Sarah , Glaser Adam , Downing Amy , Absolom Kate 
Published: July 2022

ABSTRACT

Background
Sexual dysfunction is common in those affected by cancer and local and radical treatments for Bladder Cancer (BC) can affect sexual function directly.

Aim
To evaluate sexual function following a bladder cancer (BC) diagnosis.

Methods
Self-reported sexual function was collected 10 years after a diagnosis of BC as part of a cross-sectional patient reported outcome measure (PROM) survey exploring life after BC diagnosis and treatment.

Outcomes
Participants completed a combined EORTC QLQ-BLM30 and QLQ-NMIBC24 questionnaire, including questions on sexual activity, intimacy, erectile/ejaculatory function and vaginal dryness.

Results
A total of 1796 participants returned a completed survey out of 3279 eligible participants (55%). Of the participants who returned a completed survey, a total of 1530 (85%) participants answered sexual function questions. The median (IQR) age was 75 (70–81). Participants were predominantly men (78%) and married/in civil partnerships (66%). In total, 31% were sexually active. Vaginal dryness was common (66%) in women. Erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction (80% and 58% respectively) were common in men. Compared to TURBT +/- intravesical treatments, those who had radical treatment were less likely to be sexually active (adjusted OR 0.56, 95% CI: 0.44–0.72, P&lt;0.001) and had worse mean scores for intimacy problems (29.1 [radical treatment] vs 12.1, P&lt;0.001), male sexual problems (72.2 [radical treatment] vs 45.7, P&lt;0.001) and overall sexual function (17.1 [radical treatment] vs 20.3, P=0.01).

Clinical Implications
These findings highlight the magnitude of sexual dysfunction in the BC patient cohort and can help inform patients during the pre-op counselling process and shared decision making prior to BC treatments.

Strengths and Limitations
This study provides the largest in-depth analysis of sexual activity and function after BC diagnosis and treatment, to date. Limitations include the lack of data on participants’ sexual function prior to BC treatment and the heterogeneity with respect to time passed since last BC treatment.

Conclusion
Sexual dysfunction in BC patients is common and rates appear higher following radical treatments compared to endoscopic. It is important to elicit these problems in clinics to enable counselling and treatment.
Role of flexibility on the aerodynamic performance of a resonating hummingbird-inspired wing
Authors: Kumar D. , Singh G. , Mohite P.M. , Lau E.M. , Wang Y.-C. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThis work investigates the role of flexibility and resonant excitation on the deformation mechanism and aerodynamic performance of flapping wings. A hummingbird-inspired wing (HIW) is considered and designed to have a bone-like stiffener made of carbon fibre/epoxy (CF/E) composite attached to a membrane made of carbon nanotubes/polypropylene (CNTs/PP) nanocomposite representing the flexible part of the natural wing. The designed HIW model is analysed through fluid-structure interaction simulations performed at frequencies near and at resonant frequency. It is found that HIW generates desired bending and twisting deformations that are coupled. These deformation mechanisms are studied in detail with the help of time-varying deflections and bending-twisting angles. Further, the simultaneous effect of these parameters on the aerodynamic performance of the wing is also investigated. It is observed that the coupled nature of bending and twisting deformations is critical in enhancing the aerodynamic performance of flapping wings. In addition to that, the resonance generates higher amplitude of desired structural deformations that further enhances thrust as well as lift generation capability of the wing. The underlying mechanism for this is also explained by studying the flow around the deflected surface of the wing. Compared to off-resonant frequencies, vorticity and pressures are substantially higher for the wing at resonance. A physical model of HIW is realised using CNTs/PP and CF/E composites to perform experimental wing motion analysis and to validate the computational results. In conclusion, the present study provides a basis to design efficient biomimetic flapping wings for micro aerial vehicles (MAVs) by exploring flexibility and resonant excitation.
Why Is the Accumulation of Knowledge So Hard? Exploring Econometric Research on the Determinants of Public Social Spending in Latin America
Authors: Flechtner Svenja , Sánchez-Ancochea Diego 
Published: July 2022

AbstractMany areas in applied econometric research within political economy fail to come up with conclusive findings. This is the case, for example, with studies on the determinants of public social spending in Latin America, a key area of research given the impact of social programs on poverty, inequality, and welfare more generally. In this area, as in others, it is hard to identify clear answers regarding the impact of economic processes and political institutions. Two reasons explain this lack of knowledge accumulation. First, each study uses different data sources and analytical models. Second, some of the empirical strategies required to solve various econometric problems may affect the results. This article questions the role of econometric research as the only method to explore political economy questions and highlights the importance of promoting conversations between complementary methods of both quantitative and qualitative traditions.
Tectonic evolution of the northern Verkhoyansk Fold-and-Thrust Belt: insights from palaeostress analysis and U–Pb calcite dating
Authors: Pavlovskaia Elena A , Khudoley Andrey K , Ruh Jonas B , Moskalenko Artem N , Guillong Marcel , Malyshev Sergey V 
Published: July 2022

AbstractA combined structural and geochronological study was carried out to identify the tectonic evolution of the northern Verkhoyansk Fold-and-Thrust Belt, formed on the east margin of the Siberian Craton during late Mesozoic collision. Fault and fold geometries and kinematics were used for palaeostress reconstruction along the Danil and Neleger rivers cross-cutting the central and western parts of the Kharaulakh segment of the northern Verkhoyansk. Three different stress fields (thrust, normal and strike-slip faulting) were identified after separation from heterogeneous fault-slip data. Thrust and normal faulting stress fields were found in both areas, whereas a strike-slip faulting stress field was only found in Neoproterozoic rocks of the Neleger River area. U–Pb laser ablation – inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) dating of calcite slickenside samples reveals the following succession of major deformation events across the northern Verkhoyansk: (i) The oldest tectonic event corresponding to the strike-slip faulting stress field with NE–SW-trending compression axis is Early Permian (Cisuralian, 284 ± 7 Ma) and likely represents a far-field response to the late Palaeozoic collision of the Kara terrane with the northern margin of the Siberian Craton. (ii) A slickenfibrous calcite age of 125 ± 4 Ma is attributed to the Early Cretaceous compression event, when the fold-and-thrust structure was formed. (iii) U–Pb slickenfibre calcite ages of 76–60 Ma estimate the age of a Late Cretaceous – Palaeocene compression event, when thrusts were reactivated. Slickensides related to both (ii) and (iii) compressional tectonic events formed by similar stress fields with W–E-trending compression axes. (iv) From the Palaeocene onwards, extensional tectonics with approximately W–E extension predominated.
The display of wealth, status and power: two recently discovered mid-fourth-century BC pebble-mosaic floors from Sinope
Authors: Kaba Hazar , Aksoy Eray 
Published: July 2022

AbstractIn 2019, excavation in the Yalnızlar neighbourhood of Sinop, Turkey, revealed a small number of architectural remains, two stone-paved floors and two lavishly decorated pebble-mosaic floors. Both the architectural remains and the pebble-mosaic floors are rare finds in Sinop, even more so given that the floors were found largely intact within their architectural settings. These elements appear to have constituted a portion of a once-grand house of the mid-fourth century BC. This article focuses on the pebble-mosaic floors, which will be analysed in two parts. The first introduces the floors and considers their construction techniques and decorative programmes. Analogies form an essential part of the analysis in order to contextualise both pavements within the corpus of Greek pebble-mosaic floors. A holistic evaluation of the architectural remains and the mosaics follows, in order to consider the setting and use of the floors. In the second part of the article, the sociocultural context of the mosaics is addressed. The analysis considers the meaning and symbolism of their decorations, as well as the place they once occupied within the lives of their owners. Ultimately, the position of the examples from Sinope within the wider sphere of mid-fourth-century BC Greek pebble-mosaic floors will be considered, along with the significance of such lavishly decorated floors in Sinope at this time.
Adaptive fault-tolerant control for an autonomous underwater vehicle
Authors: Tabatabaee-Nasab Fahimeh S. , Moosavian S. Ali A. , Keymasi Khalaji Ali 
Published: July 2022

AbstractIn recent years, using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for submarine missions has increased substantially. One of the problems in controlling these nonlinear devices is the possibility of a fault in the system operators. Failure causes increased operating costs and reduced vehicle performance. Therefore, the use of fault tolerance control is essential to ensure the stability and ability of the device to continue its activity. The focus of this article is on the trajectory tracking control for an underactuated AUV with actuator faults using kinematics and dynamics modeling. An adaptive rule is used as an online estimation to compensate for malfunctions in robot performance. In this regard, the adaptive fault-tolerant control plan is proposed, so that the closed-loop system is stable, and all control objectives are achievable. At first, the dynamic model of AUV with actuator fault and disturbance is described. Next, the control algorithm is designed for trajectory tracking in the presence of time-varying disturbances and actuator faults. The proposed adaptive rules will overcome disturbances and actuator faults. Finally, to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, the provided controller is compared with other common control methods.
Strategy for embryo transfer to improve pregnancy outcomes in advanced maternal age
Authors: Wang Xue , Xiao Yaling , Sun Zhengyi , Zhen Jingran , Yu Qi 
Published: July 2022

SummaryThe purpose of this retrospective study was to optimize the transplantation strategy for women of advanced maternal age to achieve live births within the shortest time. Data were collected from patients older than 40 years who underwent assisted reproductive therapy at our centre from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2019. In total, 1023 cases of fresh cleavage embryo transfer (CET) cycles, 280 cases of frozen–thawed blastocyst transfer (FBT) cycles, and 26 cases of frozen–thawed CET (FCET) cycles were included. The main outcome was the live birth rate (LBR). The secondary outcomes were the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and neonatal outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to adjust for confounding factors. The blastocyst formation rate of patients older than 40 years was 23.5%, the freezing cycle rate was 19.8%, and the fresh-embryo transfer rate was 83.0%. The implantation rate, CPR, and LBR were significantly different among the CET, FCET, and FBT groups. There were no significant differences in multiple pregnancies and abortion rates among the groups, and neonatal outcomes were similar. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, compared with the CET group, LBR did not increase in the FCET group, whereas LBR increased in the FBT group. For patients older than 40 years when having approximately eight embryos after fertilization, blastocyst transfer can be considered after fully discussing the advantages and disadvantages of blastocyst culture. Alternatively, CET can be performed first, followed by FBT if the cleavage embryo transfer is unsuccessful.
Party switching and policy disagreement: scaling analysis of experts' judgment
Authors: Kubo Hiroki , Matsumoto Tomoko , Yamamoto Kentaro 
Published: July 2022

AbstractUnder what conditions do policy disagreements cause parties to split? Before the general elections in 2017 in Japan, the Minshin, the largest opposition party, split, and the major opposition camp collapsed into three parties. Disagreement about defense policy was rapidly politicized by the founding leader of a new party, Hope. Some members were motivated to switch to Hope and split the Minshin. Why did the disagreement about defense policy, which had long existed but was inactive, become an issue that led to a major split? To answer these questions, we used Aldrich–Mckelvey and Blackbox transpose scalings to analyze the data from an expert survey about issue positions and the salience of party policies. The variance in experts' responses was also examined to consider whether parties consistently and clearly distinguish their policy positions. Party positions on defense policy were clearly distinguished and revealed a split among splinter parties. However, the party positions clearly converged on the environment, decentralization, and other policies in a two-dimensional space, which indicated the unity of the major opposition camp. Moreover, different item functioning (DIF) analysis revealed a high variance (i.e., negative weight) on the issue salience of defense policy, which indicated its politicization immediately before the split. Overall results indicated that the politicization of defense policy contributed to weakening party cohesion and the party was split over disagreement about it. This implies that party switching is caused by policy disagreement but also hinges critically on which policy is politicized as an issue for party unity.
Simulating Dropsondes to Assess Moist Static Energy Variability in Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Carstens Jacob D. , Wing Allison A. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractInteractions between clouds, water vapor, radiation, and circulation influence tropical cyclone (TC) development. Many of these interactions can be quantified by understanding tendencies of the spatial variance of moist static energy (MSE). Dropsondes from aircraft reconnaissance sample profiles needed to compute MSE at fine vertical resolution, and may be useful in analyzing these feedbacks on TCs in situ. However, dropsondes are spatially sparse, and sample limited column depths depending on the type of reconnaissance mission. We use idealized convection‐permitting simulations to examine how MSE variability, and the feedbacks that influence it, are resolved using selected patterns of grid points meant to resemble dropsonde launch points in reconnaissance flight patterns. We first examine the column depth necessary to capture the MSE variability of the full atmosphere. We then study how these simulated flight patterns depict MSE variance and its relevant diabatic feedbacks in TCs of varying structure and intensity.
Structural Hillslope Connectivity Is Driven by Tectonics More Than Climate and Modulates Hydrologic Extremes and Benefits
Authors: Husic Admin , Michalek Alexander 
Published: July 2022

AbstractStructural hydrologic connections, formed by the coaction of tectonic and climatic processes, facilitate the transfer of matter across Earth's surface. Large‐scale analysis of hillslope connectivity controls is lacking, thus limiting our understanding of the drivers of extremes, like floods and landslides, and benefits, like wetlands. Here, we model hillslope connectivity using the Index of Connectivity, at 10‐m resolution for the contiguous United States. We show the dominance of tectonic drivers, like river steepness (ρ = 0.84) and seismic activity (ρ = 0.48), over climatic drivers, like precipitation (ρ = −0.31) and aridity (ρ = −0.07), in controlling the strength of connectivity. Highly connected basins were associated with landslide occurrence (ρ = 0.69) while poorly connected basins had greater wetland density (ρ = −0.50). Lastly, we share our results in an open access data portal for land managers to leverage structural connectivity maps in their respective study domains.
Directly Generating Spatially Periodic, Heterogeneous Groundwater Flow Fields: A Finite Volume Approach
Authors: Zhou Lian , Hansen Scott K. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractWe present a finite volume approach for generating doubly‐periodic, 2D heterogeneous groundwater velocity fields, given an arbitrary hydraulic conductivity field discretized on a rectangular lattice. The method conserves mass, allows direct specification of any desired mean flow direction and computes the corresponding field with a single solve operation, and solves for inter‐cell fluxes that may be used directly for particle tracking with the Pollock method without further interpolation. We demonstrate an open‐source Python implementation of the approach that we created.