bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Application of an adapted FMEA framework for robot-inclusivity of built environments
Authors: Ng Y. J. , Yeo Matthew S. K. , Ng Q. B. , Budig Michael , Muthugala M. A. Viraj J. , Samarakoon S. M. Bhagya P. , Mohan R. E. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractMobile robots are deployed in the built environment at increasing rates. However, lack of considerations for a robot-inclusive planning has led to physical spaces that would potentially pose hazards to robots, and contribute to an overall productivity decline for mobile service robots. This research proposes the use of an adapted Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) as a structured tool to evaluate a building’s level of robot-inclusivity and safety for service robot deployments. This Robot-Inclusive FMEA (RIFMEA) framework, is used to identify failures in the built environment that compromise the workflow of service robots, assess their effects and causes, and provide recommended actions to alleviate these problems. The method was supported with a case study of deploying telepresence robots in a university campus. The study concluded that common failures were related to poor furniture design, a lack of clearance and hazard indicators, and sub-optimal interior planning.
Simultaneous expansion microscopy imaging of proteins and mRNAs via dual-ExM
Authors: Cho In , Chang Jae-Byum 
Published: March 2022

AbstractSimultaneous nanoscale imaging of mRNAs and proteins of the same specimen can provide better information on the translational regulation, molecular trafficking, and molecular interaction of both normal and diseased biological systems. Expansion microscopy (ExM) is an attractive option to achieve such imaging; however, simultaneous ExM imaging of proteins and mRNAs has not been demonstrated. Here, a technique for simultaneous ExM imaging of proteins and mRNAs in cultured cells and tissue slices, which we termed dual-expansion microscopy (dual-ExM), is demonstrated. First, we verified a protocol for the simultaneous labeling of proteins and mRNAs. Second, we combined the simultaneous labeling protocol with ExM to enable the simultaneous ExM imaging of proteins and mRNAs in cultured cells and mouse brain slices and quantitatively study the degree of signal retention after expansion. After expansion, both proteins and mRNAs can be visualized with a resolution beyond the diffraction limit of light in three dimensions. Dual-ExM is a versatile tool to study complex biological systems, such as the brain or tumor microenvironments, at a nanoscale resolution.
Three-dimensional polygonal muscle modelling and line of action estimation in living and extinct taxa
Authors: Demuth Oliver E. , Wiseman Ashleigh L. A. , van Beesel Julia , Mallison Heinrich , Hutchinson John R. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBiomechanical models and simulations of musculoskeletal function rely on accurate muscle parameters, such as muscle masses and lines of action, to estimate force production potential and moment arms. These parameters are often obtained through destructive techniques (i.e., dissection) in living taxa, frequently hindering the measurement of other relevant parameters from a single individual, thus making it necessary to combine multiple specimens and/or sources. Estimating these parameters in extinct taxa is even more challenging as soft tissues are rarely preserved in fossil taxa and the skeletal remains contain relatively little information about the size or exact path of a muscle. Here we describe a new protocol that facilitates the estimation of missing muscle parameters (i.e., muscle volume and path) for extant and extinct taxa. We created three-dimensional volumetric reconstructions for the hindlimb muscles of the extant Nile crocodile and extinct stem-archosaur Euparkeria, and the shoulder muscles of an extant gorilla to demonstrate the broad applicability of this methodology across living and extinct animal clades. Additionally, our method can be combined with surface geometry data digitally captured during dissection, thus facilitating downstream analyses. We evaluated the estimated muscle masses against physical measurements to test their accuracy in estimating missing parameters. Our estimated muscle masses generally compare favourably with segmented iodine-stained muscles and almost all fall within or close to the range of observed muscle masses, thus indicating that our estimates are reliable and the resulting lines of action calculated sufficiently accurately. This method has potential for diverse applications in evolutionary morphology and biomechanics.
Intestinal permeability before and after albendazole treatment in low and high socioeconomic status schoolchildren in Makassar, Indonesia
Authors: Amaruddin Aldian I. , Koopman Jan Pieter R. , Muhammad Munawir , Lenaerts Kaatje , van Eijk Hans M. H. , Brienen Eric A. T. , Geelen Anoecim R. , van Lieshout Lisette , Wahyuni Sitti , Kuijper Ed J. , Zwittink Romy D. , Hamid Firdaus , Sartono Erliyani , Yazdanbakhsh Maria 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIntestinal helminths are highly prevalent in low-SES children and could contribute to poor health outcomes either directly or via alteration of the gut microbiome and gut barrier function. We analysed parasitic infections and gut microbiota composition in 325 children attending high- and low-SES schools in Makassar, Indonesia before and after albendazole treatment. Lactulose/Mannitol Ratio (LMR, a marker of gut permeability); I-FABP (a surrogate marker of intestinal damage) as well as inflammatory markers (LBP) were measured. Helminth infections were highly prevalent (65.6%) in low-SES children. LMR and I-FABP levels were higher in low-SES children (geomean (95%CI): 4.03 (3.67–4.42) vs. 3.22 (2.91–3.57); p. adj < 0.001; and 1.57 (1.42–1.74) vs. 1.25 (1.13–1.38); p. adj = 0.02, respectively) while LBP levels were lower compared to the high-SES (19.39 (17.09–22.01) vs. 22.74 (20.07–26.12); p.adj = 0.01). Albendazole reduced helminth infections in low-SES and also decreased LMR with 11% reduction but only in helminth-uninfected children (estimated treatment effect: 0.89; p.adj = 0.01). Following treatment, I-FABP decreased in high- (0.91, p.adj < 0.001) but increased (1.12, p.adj = 0.004) in low-SES children. Albendazole did not alter the levels of LBP. Microbiota analysis showed no contribution from specific bacterial-taxa to the changes observed. Intestinal permeability and epithelial damage are higher while peripheral blood inflammatory marker is lower in children of low-SES in Indonesia. Furthermore, treatment decreased LMR in helminth-uninfected only.
Synthesis, characterization and thermal behavior of plasticized poly (vinyl chloride) doped with folic acid-modified titanium dioxide
Authors: Lu Yi-heng , Chen Zong-lin , Lu Yu-wei 
Published: March 2022

AbstractTo inhibit the agglomeration of nanotitanium dioxide, a poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) composite film doped with folic acid-modified titanium dioxide was synthesized and characterized using X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The average grain size of the folic acid-modified titanium dioxide was found to decrease by 1.3 nm, indicating that the cohesiveness of the nanoparticles is decreased. The lowest temperature for 1.0% thermal decomposition of PVC was determined to be 230.0 °C. The decomposition rate at the peak temperature is found to be 39.6% lower than that of a control sample. The stability of the PVC is improved due to a lower number of surface chlorine atoms as well intermolecular attraction. A mechanism for folic acid modification of titanium dioxide-doped PVC is proposed. After doping, the ester groups in the plasticizer show a significant decrease in the vibration peak intensities observed at 1264 cm−1, 1736 cm−1and 1106 cm−1. The doped PVC film suppresses the release of CO2, and the strongest vibration peak at 1264 cm−1is found to be 17.2% lower than that for the blank sample, indicating that doping is beneficial for plasticizer recovery.
Controllable secretion of multilayer vesicles driven by microbial polymer accumulation
Authors: Koh Sangho , Sato Michio , Yamashina Kota , Usukura Yuki , Toyofuku Masanori , Nomura Nobuhiko , Taguchi Seiichi 
Published: March 2022

AbstractMembrane vesicles (MVs) are formed in various microorganisms triggered by physiological and environmental phenomena. In this study, we have discovered that the biogenesis of MV took place in the recombinant cell of Escherichia coli BW25113 strain that intracellularly accumulates microbial polyester, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). This discovery was achieved as a trigger of foam formation during the microbial PHB fermentation. The purified MVs were existed as a mixture of outer MVs and outer/inner MVs, revealed by transmission electron microscopy. It should be noted that there was a good correlation between MV formation and PHB production level that can be finely controlled by varying glucose concentrations, suggesting the causal relationship in both supramolecules artificially produced in the microbial platform. Notably, the controllable secretion of MV was governed spatiotemporally through the morphological change of the E. coli cells caused by the PHB intracellular accumulation. Based on a hypothesis of PHB internal-pressure dependent envelope-disorder induced MV biogenesis, here we propose a new Polymer Intracellular Accumulation-triggered system for MV Production (designated “PIA-MVP”) with presenting a mechanistic model for MV biogenesis. The PIA-MVP is a promising microbial platform that will provides us with a significance for further study focusing on biopolymer capsulation and cross-membrane transportation for different application purposes.
Changes in blood rheological properties and biochemical markers after participation in the XTERRA Poland triathlon competition
Authors: Teległów Aneta , Marchewka Jakub , Tota Łukasz , Mucha Dawid , Ptaszek Bartłomiej , Makuch Robert , Mucha Dariusz 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe importance of physical activity in preventing chronic cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and the role of exercise as an adjunct therapy are widely recognized. Triathlon is a typically endurance discipline. Prolonged and intensive exercise is known to cause changes in blood rheological properties and biochemical markers; sometimes athletes participating in strenuous competitions need medical attention. To understand the phenomena occurring in the body in such situations, we decided to study participants’ biomarkers after the XTERRA Poland 2017 triathlon competition. The study involved 10 triathletes. The XTERRA Poland 2017 event comprised 1500-m swimming, 36-km cycling, and 10-km mountain running. Blood samples were collected 2 days before, immediately after, and 16 h after the competition. Immediately after the race, white blood cells count, platelets, and uric acid levels were significantly (P < 0.001) increased; haematocrit, Na+, Cl–, and IgA were decreased. On the following day, Na+, Cl–, and C-reactive protein levels were significantly (P < 0.001) increased; white blood cells count, red blood cells count, haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, platelets, IgG, and IgA were decreased. Assessing rheological parameters such as erythrocyte deformability and aggregation is useful for monitoring adverse effects of intensive and exhaustive exercise. The study illustrates the change in blood rheological properties and biochemical markers after intensive physical effort. Despite these differences, the indicators were within the reference range for the general population, which may demonstrate normal body function in the studied triathletes.
Diagnostic accuracy of mercurial versus digital blood pressure measurement devices: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Muniyandi Malaisamy , Sellappan Senthil , Chellaswamy Vidya , Ravi Karunya , Karthikeyan Sananthya , Thiruvengadam Kannan , Selvam Jerard Maria , Karikalan Nagarajan 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThis study aims to systematically review the diagnostic accuracy of a digital blood pressure measurement device compared to the gold standard mercury sphygmomanometer in published studies. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Cochrane, EBSCO, EMBASE and Google Scholar host databases using the specific search strategy and filters from 1st January 2000 to 3rd April 2021. We included studies reporting data on the sensitivity or specificity of blood pressure measured by digital devices and mercury sphygmomanometer used as the reference standard. Studies conducted among children, special populations, and specific disease groups were excluded. We considered published manuscripts in the English language only. The risk of bias and applicability concerns were assessed based on the author’s judgment using the QUADAS2 manual measurement evaluation tool. Based on the screening, four studies were included in the final analysis. Sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and 95% confidence interval were estimated. The digital blood pressure monitoring has a moderate level of accuracy and the device can correctly distinguish hypertension with a pooled estimate sensitivity of 65.7% and specificity of 95.9%. After removing one study, which had very low sensitivity and very high specificity, the pooled sensitivity estimate was 79%, and the specificity was 91%. The meta-analysis of DOR suggests that the digital blood pressure monitor had moderate accuracy with a mercury sphygmomanometer. This will provide the clinician and patients with accurate information on blood pressure with which diagnostic and treatment decisions could be made.
Adherence is an optimal factor for maximizing the effective and safe use of oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Yang So-Young , Kang Dong-Won , Nam Jin Hyun , Choi Eue-Keun , Lee Eui-Kyung , Shin Ju-Young , Kwon Sun-Hong 
Published: March 2022

AbstractFew studies assessed the association between major adverse cardiovascular events and adherence to warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effects of adherence to oral anticoagulants (OACs) in patients with AF using claims data (July 2014–April 2019). Using the initial 3-month medication possession rate (MPR), patients were categorized into adherent (MPR ≥ 0.8) or non-adherent (MPR < 0.8) groups. Propensity score matching of non-adherent group to adherent group was conducted for warfarin (1:1) and DOAC (1:3), respectively. Incidence of ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), intracranial hemorrhage, and all-cause death was assessed in the matched cohort (67,147 patients). The hazard ratio (HR) for adherence to OAC was estimated using the Cox proportional hazard model with adjusting covariate including age and sex. The risk for ischemic stroke, MI, and all-cause death was lower in the DOAC adherent group than in the DOAC non-adherent group (HR: 0.78; 95% confidence intervals: 0.73–0.84; 0.75, 0.60–0.94; 0.54, 0.51–0.57, respectively). Adherence to OAC was not associated with the risk of intracranial hemorrhage (1.01, 0.85–1.20). Commitment programs to improve adherence in patients with AF could maximize drug effectiveness and safety.
Confluences of exceptional points and a systematic classification of quantum catastrophes
Authors: Znojil Miloslav 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIn the problem of classification of the parameter-controlled quantum phase transitions, attention is turned from the conventional manipulations with the energy-level mergers at exceptional points to the control of mergers of the exceptional points themselves. What is obtained is an exhaustive classification which characterizes every phase transition by the algebraic and geometric multiplicity of the underlying confluent exceptional point. Typical qualitative characteristics of non-equivalent phase transitions are illustrated via a few elementary toy models.
Biomechanics of esophageal elongation with traction sutures on experimental animal model
Authors: Toczewski Krystian , Gerus Sylwester , Kaczorowski Maciej , Kozuń Marta , Wolicka Justyna , Bobrek Kamila , Filipiak Jarosław , Patkowski Dariusz 
Published: March 2022

AbstractEsophageal elongation is one of the methods of long gap esophageal atresia treatment. The aim of the study was to determine the best type of traction suture for esophageal lengthening on an animal model. White Pekin Duck’s esophagi were used as a model (fresh-frozen and thawed). The esophagus was cut in half, then both ends were sutured together and extended on a tensiometer. Tested sutures involved simple suture, suture aided by a single or double clip, and suture aided by pledget (10 samples each). Constant and 2 methods of intermittent traction were also compared. The histological study showed similarities between duck’s and newborn’s esophagus. The highest maximal force was achieved with pledget suture (F = 8.59 N ± 1.45 N), then with double clip (F = 5.74 N ± 1.29 N) and the lowest with single suture (F = 3.80 N ± 0.54 N) (p < 0.001). Pledget suture also allowed for the greatest elongation (p < 0.01). Intermittent traction results in better elongation at the same breaking strength as constant traction (p < 0.05) if traction is maintained during breaks. Reinforced sutures (pledget or double clip) should be taken into consideration in internal traction. When performing traction sutures, it is worth step by step carefully tightening the sliding knot in short periods before its final binding.
Long COVID in hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients in a large cohort in Northwest Spain, a prospective cohort study
Authors: Pérez-González Alexandre , Araújo-Ameijeiras Alejandro , Fernández-Villar Alberto , Crespo Manuel , Poveda Eva ,   the Cohort COVID-19 of the Galicia Sur Health Research Institute, Cabrera Jorge Julio , del Campo Víctor , de Araujo Beatriz Gil , Gómez Carlos , Leiro Virginia , Longueira María Rebeca , López-Domínguez Ana , Ramón Lorenzo José , Marcos María , Teresa Pérez María , Patiño Lucia , Pérez Sonia , Pérez-Fernández Silvia , Ramos Cristina , Regueiro Benito , Retresas Cristina , Rivera Tania , Souto Olga , Taboada Isabel , Teijeira Susana , Torres María , Val Vanesa , Viéitez Irene 
Published: March 2022

AbstractSurvivors to COVID-19 have described long-term symptoms after acute disease. These signs constitute a heterogeneous group named long COVID or persistent COVID. The aim of this study is to describe persisting symptoms 6 months after COVID-19 diagnosis in a prospective cohort in the Northwest Spain. This is a prospective cohort study performed in the COHVID-GS. This cohort includes patients in clinical follow-up in a health area of 569,534 inhabitants after SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 diagnosis. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics were collected during the follow up. A total of 248 patients completed 6 months follow-up, 176 (69.4%) required hospitalization and 29 (10.2%) of them needed critical care. At 6 months, 119 (48.0%) patients described one or more persisting symptoms. The most prevalent were: extra-thoracic symptoms (39.1%), chest symptoms (27%), dyspnoea (20.6%), and fatigue (16.1%). These symptoms were more common in hospitalized patients (52.3% vs. 38.2%) and in women (59.0% vs. 40.5%). The multivariate analysis identified COPD, women gender and tobacco consumption as risk factors for long COVID. Persisting symptoms are common after COVID-19 especially in hospitalized patients compared to outpatients (52.3% vs. 38.2%). Based on these findings, special attention and clinical follow-up after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection should be provided for hospitalized patients with previous lung diseases, tobacco consumption, and women.
On the single and multiple associations of COVID-19 post-acute sequelae: 6-month prospective cohort study
Authors: Jiménez-Rodríguez Beatriz María , Gutiérrez-Fernández José , Ramos-Urbina Eldis Maria , Romero-Ortiz Ana Dolores , García-Flores Paula Isabel , Santiago-Puertas Maria Inmaculada , Martín-López Maria José , López-Milena Genaro , Fabregas Rene , Morales-García Concepción 
Published: March 2022

AbstractMedical research is progressing to clarify the full spectrum of sub-acute and long-term effects of the post-COVID-19 syndrome. However, most manuscripts published to date only analyze the effects of post-COVID-19 in patients discharged from hospital, which may induce significant bias. Here, we propose a pioneering study to analyze the single and multiple associations between post-COVID-19 characteristics with up to 6-months of follow-up in hospitalized and non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The cohort study was conducted from May to October 2020 at the University Hospital Virgen de la Nieves, the leading hospital assigned for patients with COVID-19 in Granada, Spain. A total of 372 and 217 patients—with 217 and 207 included in the first and second follow-up visits—were referred 2 and 6 months after diagnosing COVID-19, respectively. We find out that post-COVID-19 clinical and mental health impairment symptoms are correlated with patient gender. Logistic adjustments showed strong statistically robust single and multiple associations of demographic, clinical, mental health, X-ray, laboratory indices, and pulmonary function variables. The functional lung tests are good predictors of chest CT imaging abnormalities in elderly patients. Bilateral lung involvement, subpleural reticulum, ground-glass opacity, peripheral lung lesions, and bronchiectasis were the most common findings of the high-resolution computed tomography images. Non-hospitalized patients suffer more severe thromboembolic events and fatigue than those hospitalized.
The human primary visual cortex (V1) encodes the perceived position of static but not moving objects
Authors: Ho Man-Ling , Schwarzkopf D. Samuel 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBrain activity in retinotopic cortex reflects illusory changes in stimulus position. Is this neural signature a general code for apparent position? Here we show that responses in primary visual cortex (V1) are consistent with perception of the Muller-Lyer illusion; however, we found no such signature for another striking illusion, the curveball effect. This demonstrates that V1 does not encode apparent position per se.
Immortal polymerization of LA: the influence of steric effects, electronic effects and pKaon chain transfer agents
Authors: Liu Na , Zhang Jince , Wen Jingyi , You Xiaolei , Fang Dawei 
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we systematically investigated the iROP of l-LA based Ca[N(SiMe3)2]2(THF)2/CTAs binary catalytic systems for the first time. The steric effect, electronic effect and pKa of CTAs all had great influences on the iROP of LA.
Phase‐index correlation delay shift keying modulation
Authors: Duan Jun‐Yi , Yang Hua 
Published: March 2022

AbstractHigh‐data‐rate phase‐orthogonality correlation‐delay‐shift‐keying (HPO‐CDSK) transmits 2‐bits orthogonal signal in parallel and achieve higher spectral efficiency in the category of non‐coherent detection chaotic systems. However, the spectral efficiency gain mainly relies on the sacrifice of energy efficiency. The study of HPO‐CDSK is extended and phase‐index CDSK (PI‐CDSK) is proposed. By virtue of index modulation (IM) technology in PI‐CDSK, according to the index bit, the orthogonal phase is used to distinguish the active carrier which bears the information bit. Since two bits (including index bit and information bit) are borne in one carrier, compared with HPO‐CDSK, PI‐CDSK can achieve double energy efficiency gain. Moreover, PI‐CDSK can decrease noise interference and eliminate the intra‐signal interference (ISI) component in demodulation. Results show that, with the same energy efficiency, PI‐CDSK has better bit‐error rate (BER) performance than that of CDSK, DCSK and their improved schemes.