bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hybrid metaheuristic machine learning approach for water level prediction: A case study in Dongting Lake
Authors: Deng Bin , Liu Pan , Chin Ren Jie , Kumar Pavitra , Jiang Changbo , Xiang Yifei , Liu Yizhuang , Lai Sai Hin , Luo Hongmei 
Published: August 2022

A reliable water level prediction in a lake system is crucial for water resources management, flood control, etc. The objective of this study is to propose a machine learning model which is able to achieve a considerably high level of accuracy in terms of water level prediction. Dongting Lake, which is the second-largest freshwater lake system in China, was selected as the study area. The hourly water level, flow rate, rainfall and temperature of the upstream water stations and rainfall of the downstream water stations were used as the input features, to predict the water level at the downstream stations. Multilayer perceptron neural network (MLP-NN), Elman neural network (ENN), and integration of particle swarm optimisation algorithm to Elman neural network (PSO-ENN) were selected as the model development techniques. The PSO-ENN model appears as the best performed model, as it records NSE of 0.929–0.988, RMSE of 0.129–0.322 and MAE of 0.151–0.359 at the downstream stations in Dongting Lake. The PSO-ENN model also shows its ability to provide better performance for the water level prediction of 36 h in advance. In terms of input variables sensitivity, the developed model is most sensitive to flow rate, followed by rainfall.
Learning curve for robotic thyroidectomy using BABA: CUSUM analysis of a single surgeon’s experience
Authors: Ouyang Hui , Xue Wenbo , Zhang Zeyu , Cong Rong , Sun Botao , Xia Fada , Li Xinying 
Published: August 2022

BackgroundThis study assessed the safety and oncologic outcomes of robotic thyroidectomy via the bilateral axillary breast approach (BABA RT) for conventional open procedures. The learning curves of BABA RT were further evaluated.MethodsAn exact 1:1 matching analysis was performed to compare the technical safety and oncologic outcomes between robotic thyroidectomy and conventional open surgery. Learning curves were assessed using cumulative summation analysis.ResultsThere was no significant difference in general characteristics, short time outcomes (including transient hypoparathyroidism, transient postoperative hoarseness, hematoma/seroma, mean postoperative hospital stay, and other complications), the number of retrieved central lymph nodes, and recurrence rates between robotic BABA and conventional groups. The mean number of retrieved lateral LNs in the robotic group was significantly less than those in the conventional group. The learning curve for working space making, robotic lobectomy, and total thyroidectomy are approximately 15, 30, and 20 cases, respectively. No differences except for operation time were found between the learning group and the proficient group.ConclusionsRobotic thyroidectomy and neck dissection via BABA are feasible in terms of surgical completeness, surgical safety, and oncological safety. Our results provide a criterion for judging whether the surgeon has entered the stable stage of robotic thyroidectomy via BABA in terms of the operative time.
Coordinated regulation of gene expression and microRNA changes in adipose tissue and circulating extracellular vesicles in response to pioglitazone treatment in humans with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Nunez Lopez Yury O. , Casu Anna , Kovacova Zuzana , Petrilli Alejandra M. , Sideleva Olga , Tharp William G. , Pratley Richard E. 
Published: August 2022

Pioglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, is used to treat type 2 diabetes (T2D). PPARγ is highly expressed in adipose tissue (AT), however the effects of pioglitazone to improve insulin sensitivity are also evident in other tissues and PPARγ agonism has been shown to alter cancer derived extracellular vesicle (EV)-miRNAs. We hypothesized that pioglitazone modifies the cargo of circulating AT-derived EVs to alter interorgan crosstalk in people with diabetes. We tested our hypothesis in a 3-month trial in which 24 subjects with T2D were randomized to treatment with either pioglitazone 45 mg/day or placebo (NCT00656864). Levels of 42 adipocyte-derived EV-miRNAs were measured in plasma EVs using low density TaqMan arrays. Levels of differentially expressed EV-miRNAs and their most relevant target genes were also measure in adipose tissue from the same participants, using individual TaqMan assays. Levels of 5 miRNAs (i.e., miR-7-5p, miR-20a-5p, miR-92a-3p, miR-195-5p, and miR-374b-5p) were significantly downregulated in EVs in response to pioglitazone treatment relative to placebo. The opposite occurred for miR-195-5p in subcutaneous AT. Changes in miRNA expression in EVs and AT correlated with changes in suppression of lipolysis and improved insulin sensitivity, among others. DICER was downregulated and exosomal miRNA sorting-related genes YBX1 and hnRNPA2B1 displayed a downregulation trend in AT. Furthermore, analysis of EV-miRNA targeted genes identified a network of transcripts that changed in a coordinated manner in AT. Collectively, our results suggest that some beneficial pharmacologic effects of pioglitazone are mediated by adipose-specific miRNA regulation and exosomal/EV trafficking.Clinical Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT00656864.
Causal relationships between rheumatism and dyslipidemia: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Zhang Guangyang , Cai Yuanqing , Liang Jialin , Zhang Jianan , Jing Zhaopu , Lv Leifeng , Zhang Rupeng , Song Jidong , Dang Xiaoqian , Song Qichun 
Published: August 2022

BackgroundDyslipidemia is often observed in rheumatic diseases, such as ankylosing spondylitis (AS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), yet it remains to be detected whether rheumatic diseases have a causal effect on dyslipidemia.MethodsSignificant (P &lt; 5 × 10-8) and independent (r2 &lt; 0.1) single-nucleotide polymorphisms in genome-wide association studies were selected as instrumental variables to conduct Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Inverse variance weighted, weighted median, and MR–Egger regression were adopted for the causal inference. Subsequently, sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the stability and reliability of MR.ResultsThe MR results revealed positive causal relationships of AS with total cholesterol (TC) (β = 0.089, 95% CI = 0.050 to 0.128, P = 6.07 × 10-6), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (β = 0.087, 95% CI = 0.047 to 0.127, P = 1.91 × 10-5), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (β = 0.043, 95% CI = 0.001 to 0.074, P = 0.009). There was no causal effect of RA on TC (β = 0.008, 95% CI = 4.86 × 10-4 to 0.017, P = 0.064), LDL (β = 6.4 × 10-4, 95% CI = -0.008 to 0.007, P = 0.871), or HDL (β = 0.005, 95% CI = -0.003 to 0.013, P = 0.200). Additionally, SLE had negative causal links for TC (β = -0.025, 95% CI = -0.036 to -0.015, P = 4.42 × 10-6), LDL (β = -0.015, 95% CI = -0.025 to -0.005, P = 0.003), and HDL (β = -0.013, 95% CI = -0.021 to -0.004, P = 0.004). The results were stable and reliable.ConclusionThis study suggested positive causal effects of AS on TC, LDL, and HDL and negative causal effects of SLE on these cholesterol levels, which could provide much help for the pathogenesis and treatment of rheumatic disease patients with dyslipidemia.
Association of thyroid peroxidase antibodies with the rate of first-trimester miscarriage in euthyroid women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion
Authors: Liu Meilan , Wang Dongyan , Zhu Liqiong , Yin Jianlan , Ji Xiaohui , Zhong Yilei , Gao Yuan , Zhang Jianping , Liu Yukun , Zhang Rui , Chen Hui 
Published: August 2022

BackgroundUnexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion is a serious reproductive problem of unknown etiology. Thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab) may be associated with pregnancy outcomes in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion with normal thyroid function.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the relationship between TPO-Ab and the first trimester miscarriage rate/live birth rate in women of unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion with normal thyroid function.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 297 women who met our strict inclusion criteria, comparing the first trimester miscarriage rate/live birth rate between the TPO-Ab positive and TPO-Ab negative groups. For the same purpose, we also performed subgroup analysis.ResultsOf the included women, 76 (25.6%) were TPO-Ab positive, and 221 (74.4%) were negative. First trimester miscarriage rate differed between the two groups (36.8% vs 24.0%, RR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.05–2.24, P = 0.030). In the younger subgroup (&lt;35 years) and the primary RSA subgroup, First trimester miscarriage rate was also higher in the TPO-Ab positive group (33.3% vs 19.0%, RR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.07–2.87, P = 0.030; 36.5% vs 21.7%, RR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.10–2.58, P = 0.020). While the live birth rate was lower in women with TPO-Ab positive, the difference did not reach statistical significance, even in the subgroup analysis.ConclusionOur results suggest that TPO-Ab is associated with first trimester miscarriage rate in euthyroid women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion.
Body composition of the upper limb associated with hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes
Authors: Qi Qianjin , Sun Kui , Rong Ying , Li Zhaoping , Wu Yixia , Zhang Di , Song Shuaihua , Wang Haoran , Feng Li 
Published: August 2022

The associations between segmental body composition and metabolic diseases remain equivocal. This study aimed to investigate this association using the example of U.S. adults. This cross-sectional study included 12,148 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2011-2018). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate associations between segmental body composition quartiles of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes. Among 12,148 participants, 3,569, 5,683, and 1,212 had hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders, increased percent upper limb lean body mass was associated with a lower risk of hypertension (OR= 0.88, 95%CI: 0.84, 0.92, P trend&lt;0.001), hypercholesterolemia (OR= 0.93, 95%CI: 0.89, 0.96, P trend&lt;0.001), and diabetes (OR= 0.96, 95%CI: 0.95, 0.98, P trend&lt;0.001). Increased upper limb fat mass is associated with an increased risk of hypertension (OR= 1.11, 95%CI: 1.07, 1.15, P trend&lt;0.001), hypercholesterolemia (OR= 1.05, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.09, P trend=0.07), and diabetes (OR= 1.03, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.05, P trend=0.014). The same correlations were found in the torso and whole-body composition parameters. We observed that for women, lean body mass has a better protective effect on metabolic diseases [hypertension (OR= 0.88, 95%CI: 0.82, 0.93), hypercholesteremia (OR =0.86, 95%CI: 0.81, 0.92), diabetes (OR= 0.97, 95%CI: 0.85, 0.99)]; for men, increased body fat is associated with greater risk of metabolic disease[hypertension (OR= 1.24, 95%CI: 1.15, 1.33), hypercholesteremia (OR =1.09, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.18), diabetes (OR= 1.06, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.10)]. There were significant differences between different gender. These findings suggested that upper limb and torso adiposity should be considered when assessing chronic metabolic disease risk using body composition.
Blood immune indexes can predict lateral lymph node metastasis of thyroid papillary carcinoma
Authors: Zhao Lingqian , Zhou Tianhan , Zhang Wenhao , Wu Fan , Jiang Kecheng , Lin Bei , Zhan Siqi , Hu Tao , Tang Tian , Zhang Yu , Luo Dingcun 
Published: August 2022

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical significance of blood immune indexes in predicting lateral lymph node metastasis (LLNM) of thyroid papillary carcinoma (PTC).MethodsThe pathological data and preoperative blood samples of 713 patients that underwent thyroid surgery at affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 2013 to June 2021 were collected as the model group. The pathological data and preoperative blood samples of 177 patients that underwent thyroid surgery in the same hospital from July 2021 to October 2021 were collected as the external validation group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine the independent risk factors of LLNM in PTC patients. A predictive model for assessing LLNM in PTC patients was established and externally validated using the external data.ResultsAccording to univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, tumor diameter (P &lt; 0.001, odds ratios (OR): 1.205, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.162–1.249) and the preoperative systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) (P = 0.032, OR: 1.001, 95% CI: 1.000–1.002) were independent risk factors for distinguishing LLNM in PTC patients. When the Youden index was the highest, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.860 (P &lt; 0.001, 95% CI: 0.821–0.898). The externally validated AUC was 0.827 (P &lt; 0.001, 95% CI: 0.724–0.929), the specificity was 86.4%, and the sensitivity was 69.6%. The calibration curve and the decision curve indicated that the model had good diagnostic value.ConclusionBlood immune indexes can reflect the occurrence of LLNM and the biological behavior of PTC. The predictive model established in combination with SII and tumor diameter can effectively predict the occurrence of LLNM in PTC patients.
Caprock self-sealing effect due to CO2 leakage from geologic carbon sequestration reservoirs: a case study at Ping’an, China
Authors: Fu Lei , Diao Yujie , Zheng Changyuan , Ma Xin , Zhang Chenglong , Liu Ting , Jin Xiaolin , Shao Wei 
Published: August 2022

As a bottom technology for CO2 reduction, geological CO2 storage has attracted great attention from geologists, but there are few reports on the research of the caprock self-sealing effect due to CO2 leakage. Ping’an is a natural CO2 leakage site, which can be compared to the leakage scenarios of geological CO2 storage. Based on the water quality test results and geological observation data, the numerical simulation of geochemistry is carried out. The results show that: First, gypsum dissolves and calcite precipitates during the migration of CO2-rich water to the surface. This process presents a self-sealing effect, and the closer to the surface, the more obvious the self-sealing; Second, the self-sealing effect is formed rapidly. For a 30 cm wide fissure, it only takes a few hundred days to achieve self-sealing; Third, the CO2 leakage was estimated, about 140,813.3 m3, or about 251.28 tons for 1 m long fissure.
A feasibility study of SMART reactor power performance optimizations-part 2: Reflector material selection
Authors: Zhong Yiming , Norman Paul , Wu Wenbin 
Published: August 2022

The neutron reflector is a general component in the nuclear reactor design. The original SMART reactor design used light water as a reflector surrounding the fission zone. However, this design has low uranium utilization rates in the outermost fuel assemblies, so poor fuel economy. In this study, six potential reflector materials, i.e., heavy water, graphite, beryllium metal and its oxide, steel, and tungsten carbide has been investigated as the neutron reflector for SMART. Firstly, the materials’ cross-sections of neutron scattering and (n, 2n) reactions have been cited from ENDF data libraries and analyzed. This analysis found for the neutrons with energy lower than 1 eV, the 9Be atom has six barn elastic scattering cross-sections, and the 9Be(n, 2n)8Be reaction can compensate for neutron leakage. Then, OpenMC is employed to simulate the effect of these reflector materials on power distribution and depletion. Compared with the original design, the beryllium oxide can improve the initial keff from 1.22906 to 1.27446, flat the radial direction power distribution. The analysis on both scales agrees that the beryllium oxide is an efficient neutron reflector choice with good material properties.
Winter warming effects on soil nitrate leaching under cover crops: A field study using high-frequency weighing lysimeters
Authors: Lapierre Jared , Machado Pedro Vitor Ferrari , Debruyn Zachary , Brown Shannon E. , Jordan Sean , Berg Aaron , Biswas Asim , Henry Hugh A. L. , Wagner-Riddle Claudia 
Published: August 2022

Leaching of nitrate (NO3−)—a reactive nitrogen form with impacts on ecosystem health—increases during the non-growing season (NGS) of agricultural soils under cold climates. Cover crops are effective at reducing NGS NO3− leaching, but this benefit may be altered with less snow cover inducing more soil freezing under warmer winters. Our objective was to quantify the effect of winter warming on NO3− leaching from cover crops for a loamy sand (LS) and a silt loam (SIL) soil. This research was conducted over 2 years in Ontario, Canada, using 18 high-precision weighing lysimeters designed to study ecosystem services from agricultural soils. Infra-red heaters were used to simulate warming in lysimeters under a wheat-corn-soybean rotation planted with a cover crop mixture with (+H) and without heating (-H). Nitrate leaching determination used NO3− concentration at 90 cm (discrete sampling) and high temporal resolution drainage volume measurements. Data were analyzed for fall, overwinter, spring-thaw, post-planting, and total period (i.e., November 1 to June 30 of 2017/2018 and 2018/2019). Warming significantly affected soil temperature and soil water content—an effect that was similar for both years. As expected, experimental units under + H presented warmer soils at 5 and 10 cm, along with higher soil water content in liquid form than –H lysimeters, which translated into higher drainage values for + H than –H, especially during the overwinter period. NO3− concentrations at 90 cm were only affected by winter heating for the LS soil. The drainage and NO3− concentrations exhibited high spatial variation, which likely reduced the sensitivity to detect significant differences. Thus, although absolute differences in NO3− leaching between LS vs. SIL and +H (LS) vs. –H (LS) were large, only a trend occurred for higher leaching in LS in 2018/2019. Our research demonstrated that soil heating can influence overwinter drainage (for LS and SIL soils) and NO3− concentration at 90 cm in the LS soil—important NO3− leaching controlling factors. However, contrary to our initial hypothesis, the heating regime adopted in our study did not promote colder soils during the winter. We suggest different heating regimes such as intermittent heating to simulate extreme weather freeze/thaw events as a future research topic.
Source Apportionment of Elemental Carbon in Different Seasons in Hebei, China
Authors: Hou Dongli , Zhang Xiang , Zhao Jiangwei , Qiang Jie , Wang Jianguo , Wang Peng , An Qingxian , Wang Yang , Wang Liwei , Yuan Shihui , Zhang Feng 
Published: August 2022

Black carbon (BC), also termed elemental carbon (EC), is a strong light-absorbing substance. It can disturb the radiation balance between the earth and atmosphere resulting in changing regional and global climate conditions. This study conducted a thorough analysis of EC in Hebei during different seasons and provided comprehensive EC emission data in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region for future policy making connected with air pollution mitigation and control. The results showed that the concentration of EC during the sampling period varied from 0.01 to 18.4 μg/m3 with a mean value of 2.6 ± 2.8 μg/m3. The EC source apportionment exercise identified four regular emission sources for all seasons, including traffic-related emissions, coal combustion, biomass burning, and mineral dust. Annually, traffic-related emissions were the primary EC contributor with an annual average contribution of 38%, followed by biomass burning (30%) and coal combustion (25%). In addition, the EC mass concentration at Shijiazhuang was also influenced by diverse pollutants from upwind regions. This study shows that traffic emissions are a major contributor to EC mass concentration in Shangjiazhuang and highlights that regional joint control of air pollution is important to local air quality.
The experiences of endometriosis patients with diagnosis and treatment in New Zealand
Authors: Ellis Katherine , Munro Deborah , Wood Rachael 
Published: August 2022

Endometriosis is a chronically painful, invasive, inflammatory disease, with limited treatment options and long delays to diagnosis, which impacts 10% of females in New Zealand.IntroductionAs part of a larger group discussion study, this paper covers three themes associated with endometriosis patient experiences: intensity of pain, diagnostic tool shortcomings and perspectives of treatment options.Materials and methodsThe goal of this research was the inclusion of patient voices to guide research priorities. In early 2022, 50 New Zealand endometriosis patients participated in anonymous, asynchronous, text-based group discussions on the VisionsLive platform. The patients ranged in age from 18–48. The patients answered 50 questions, 23 text-based and 27 quantitative, and then took part in online group discussions.Results and discussionThe average age of symptom onset was 15.3 years, while the average delay from symptom onset to a working or surgically confirmed diagnosis was 7.91 years. The top five reported symptoms within the cohort were pain-based, and the participants discussed the many impacts of this pain on their work and education. The four main diagnostic tools employed on this cohort were abdominal ultrasound (72%), transvaginal ultrasound (68%), laparoscopy (82%) and sharing their symptom history with a medical practitioner (88%). The most common emotions patients experienced following receiving a diagnosis of endometriosis were relief (86%), feeling overwhelmed (54%), and anger (32%). The main treatments offered to this cohort were pain relief (96%), laparoscopic surgery (84%) and the combined oral contraceptive pill (80%). Of these three treatments, only laparoscopic surgery was viewed positively by the majority of users, with 67% considering laparoscopy an effective treatment, compared to 46% of users for pain relief, and 25% of users for the combined oral contraceptive pill.ConclusionsGathering the voice of patients revealed that long delays to diagnosis and dismissal by medical practitioners frequently manifests as a reaction of relief by patients once diagnosed. Results also showed treatment options such as pain relief and hormonal medications were often considered ineffective, but were routinely offered as the first, or only, options for patients. It is therefore important that both quicker routes to diagnosis and more effective treatment options be developed.