bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inflammasome involvement in CS-induced damage in HaCaT keratinocytes
Authors: Prieux Roxane , Ferrara Francesca , Cervellati Franco , Guiotto Anna , Benedusi Mascia , Valacchi Giuseppe 
Published: April 2022

AbstractCigarette smoke (CS) alters cutaneous biological processes such as redox homeostasis and inflammation response that might be involved in promoting skin inflammatory conditions. Exposure to CS has also been linked to a destabilization of the NLRP3 inflammasome in pollution target tissues such as the lung epithelium, resulting in a more vulnerable immunological response to several exogenous and endogenous stimuli related to oxidative stress. Thus, CS has an adverse effect on host defense, increasing the susceptibility to develop lung infections and pathologies. In the skin, another direct target of pollution, inflammasome disorders have been linked to an increasing number of diseases such as melanoma, psoriasis, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, and acne, all conditions that have been connected directly or indirectly to pollution exposure. The inflammasome machinery is an important innate immune sensor in human keratinocytes. However, the role of CS in the NLRP1 and NLRP3 inflammasome in the cutaneous barrier has still not been investigated. In the present study, we were able to determine in keratinocytes exposed to CS an increased oxidative damage evaluated by 4-HNE protein adduct and carbonyl formation. Of note is that, while CS inhibited NLRP3 activation, it was able to activate NLRP1, leading to an increased secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. This study highlights the importance of the inflammasome machinery in CS that more in general, in pollution, affects cutaneous tissues and the important cross-talk between different members of the NLRP inflammasome family.
Increasing hip fracture volume following repeated lockdowns: an Irish multicentre study of periods pre-Covid, during Covid lockdown and following vaccination
Authors: O’Driscoll Conor S. , Downey Colum , Timon Charles , Lennon David , Brent Louise , Murphy Colin G. , Cleary May , Quinlan John F. 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
Older age groups were identified as a high-risk cohort for Covid-19 and thus were a focus of lockdown measures enacted internationally. Resultant decreased social mobility and physical activity levels are associated with sarcopenia, which may lead to increased risk of hip fracture upon resuming social integration and physical activities after easing of lockdown restrictions.

Aims
Our aim was to compare the incidence of hip fractures during the period following vaccination with subsequent relaxation of restrictions, to those prior to and during the Covid pandemic.

Methods
A multicentre retrospective cohort study was performed consisting of all patients presenting with a “hip” fracture to 3 regional trauma units over the relevant time periods in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Tallaght, Galway and Waterford University Hospitals are large academic teaching hospitals with a combined mixed urban and rural catchment of over 1 million people.

Findings
Four-hundred-fourteen patients in total were included in the final analysis, with 133 eligible hip fractures observed proceeding to operative treatment across the study period in 2019, 132 in 2020 and 149 in 2021, representing a 12.88% increase. Demographic data revealed similar patient cohorts with respect to age and gender, fracture pattern and treatment.

Conclusions
An increase in hip fracture volume was observed during the period post vaccination with subsequent relaxation of restrictions and increased social mobility, compared to those prior to and during the Covid pandemic. These findings have implications for hospital planning and orthopaedic resourcing as we navigate our way forward past the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Hemorrhage in pheochromocytoma surgery: evaluation of preoperative risk factors
Authors: Guo Ying , Li Hai , Xie Dingxiang , You Lili , Yan Li , Li Yanbing , Zhang Shaoling 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Objective
Pheochromocytoma surgery carries a higher risk of hemorrhage. Our objective was to identify preoperative risk factors for hemorrhage during pheochromocytoma surgery.

Methods
Patients who underwent surgery and with postoperative pathological confirmation were enrolled. A total of 251 patients from our center were included in the investigation, and 120 patients from the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University were included as an external validation dataset. Family and medical history, demographics, hemodynamics, biochemical parameters, image data, anesthesia and operation records, postoperative outcomes were collected. Postoperative complications were graded by the Clavien–Dindo classification. Correlation between intraoperative hemorrhage volume and postoperative outcomes was assessed. The features associated with intraoperative hemorrhage were identified by linear regression. All features that were statistically significant in the multiple linear regression were then used to construct models and nomograms for predicting intraoperative hemorrhage. The constructed models were evaluated by Akaike Information Criterion. Finally, internal and external validations were carried out by tenfold cross-validation.

Results
Intraoperative hemorrhage volume was positively correlated with the postoperative hospitalization time (R = 0.454, P < 0.001) and the Clavien–Dindo grades (R = 0.664, P < 0.001). Features associated with intraoperative hemorrhage were male gender (β = 0.533, OR = 1.722, P = 0.002), tumor diameter (β = 0.027, OR = 1.027, P < 0.001), preoperative CCB use (β = 0.318, OR = 1.308, P = 0.123) and open surgery (β = 1.175, OR = 3.234, P < 0.001). Validations showed reliable results (internal (R = 0.612, RMSE = 1.355, MAE = 1.111); external (R = 0.585, RMSE = 1.398, MAE = 0.964)).

Conclusion
More intraoperative hemorrhage is correlated with longer postoperative hospitalization time and more severe postoperative complications. Male gender, larger tumor, preoperative CCB use and open surgery are preoperative risk factors for hemorrhage in PCC surgery.
Lipid Dyshomeostasis and Inherited Cerebellar Ataxia
Authors: Zhao Jin , Zhang Huan , Fan Xueyu , Yu Xue , Huai Jisen 
Published: April 2022

AbstractCerebellar ataxia is a form of ataxia that originates from dysfunction of the cerebellum, but may involve additional neurological tissues. Its clinical symptoms are mainly characterized by the absence of voluntary muscle coordination and loss of control of movement with varying manifestations due to differences in severity, in the site of cerebellar damage and in the involvement of extracerebellar tissues. Cerebellar ataxia may be sporadic, acquired, and hereditary. Hereditary ataxia accounts for the majority of cases. Hereditary ataxia has been tentatively divided into several subtypes by scientists in the field, and nearly all of them remain incurable. This is mainly because the detailed mechanisms of these cerebellar disorders are incompletely understood. To precisely diagnose and treat these diseases, studies on their molecular mechanisms have been conducted extensively in the past. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that some common pathogenic mechanisms exist within each subtype of inherited ataxia. However, no reports have indicated whether there is a common mechanism among the different subtypes of inherited cerebellar ataxia. In this review, we summarize the available references and databases on neurological disorders characterized by cerebellar ataxia and show that a subset of genes involved in lipid homeostasis form a new group that may cause ataxic disorders through a common mechanism. This common signaling pathway can provide a valuable reference for future diagnosis and treatment of ataxic disorders.
Non-contact optical characterization of negative pressure in hydrogel voids and microchannels
Authors: Xu Shihao , Liu Xiaowei , Yu Zehua , Liu Kang 
Published: April 2022

AbstractNegative pressure in water under tension, as a thermodynamic non-equilibrium state, has facilitated the emergence of innovative technologies on microfluidics, desalination, and thermal management. However, the lack of a simple and accurate method to measure negative pressure hinders further in-depth understanding of the properties of water in such a state. In this work, we propose a non-contact optical method to quantify the negative pressure in micron-sized water voids of a hydrogel film based on the microscale mechanical deformation of the hydrogel itself. We tested three groups of hydrogel samples with different negative pressure inside, and the obtained results fit well with the theoretical prediction. Furthermore, we demonstrated that this method can characterize the distribution of negative pressure, and can thus provide the possibility of investigation of the flow behavior of water in negative pressure. These results prove this technique to be a promising approach to characterization of water under tension and for investigation of its properties under negative pressure.
Graphical Abstract
Evaluation and improvement of the WWTP performance of an agricultural cooperative by adsorption on inert biomaterial: case of orthophosphate, nitrate and sulfate ions
Authors: Abali Mhamed , Ait Ichou Abdeljalil , Zaghloul Ahmed , Chiban Mohamed , Sinan Fouad , Zerbet Mohamed 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe study is carried out at the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) of an agricultural cooperative that operates according to the activated sludge process. Dairy industry is enlisted as one of the top-most industries in the food industry. Dairy wastewater treatment is a big issue as dairy wastewater releases a high amount of chemical oxygen demand, inorganic and organic particles, biological oxygen demand, and nutrients. But, these processes partly degrade wastewater containing fats and nutrients as dairy wastewater. The aim of this study was to evaluate the purification performance of this treatment process. The qualitative analysis of decanted raw wastewater (DRWW) and purified wastewater (PWW) shows that the concentration of orthophosphate, nitrate and sulfate ions is slightly higher. Such contaminated water if not handled appropriately, it pollutes water bodies and largely affects our ecosystem and biodiversity. Hence, our proposal is to improve the WWTP performances by using the adsorption process onto dried Carpobrotus edulis as an inert biomaterial. This adsorption process is recognized as one of the best water treatment techniques, more and more works are oriented towards the search for new materials, cheaper and having a good adsorbent potential. This study opens the path for the use of natural and abundant local material to remove orthophosphate, nitrate and sulfate ions using the C. edulis plant particles shred. The surface micromorphology of the biomaterial was investigated using a scanning electron microscope; while the qualitative element composition was analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray and infrared spectroscopies. The found results of DRWW was about 57% for orthophosphates, 67% for sulfates and 73% for nitrates ions. For PWW, the percentage removal was found to be 62%, 73% and 84% for orthophosphates, sulfates and nitrates respectively. These results indicate that dried C. edulis plant, as an environmentally friendly adsorbent could be recommended for the removal of mineral pollutants. In conclusion, the C. edulis adsorbent can be integrated into the activated sludge process for wastewater treatment after identifying the optimal hydraulic loads, associated sizes, and shapes in continuous operations.
Assessment of metal concentrations from recreational rivers in a tropical region (Jengka, Malaysia)
Authors: Sulaiman Fazrul Razman , Shamshudin Che Mohamad Fakhrul Hafiz Che Mohd , Rahim Muhammad Haziq Abd , Sulaiman Noorzamzarina 
Published: April 2022

AbstractA recreational river may be exposed to some extent of metal pollution. Two rivers, namely Sungai Weh and Sungai Jempul, were selected for this study, as both areas offer recreational activities for residents in Jengka, Pahang, Malaysia. This study examines the concentration of selected metals (Fe, Mn, and Pb), elucidates the possible sources, evaluates the toxicity loads, and estimates the potential health risk. Metal concentrations were analysed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The concentrations were found in the sequence of Fe > Pb > Mn. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) suggested that the metals’ origins included both anthropogenic activities and natural sources. About 16.66% of Pb should be removed from the river water to ensure safety, based on the heavy metal toxicity load calculation (HMTL). Children are more vulnerable to non-cancer and cancer risks than adults. The findings indicate that comprehensive monitoring of water quality parameters and thorough exposure assessment should be performed.
Smart water supply system: a quasi intelligent diagnostic method for a distribution network
Authors: Kowalski Dariusz , Kowalska Beata , Suchorab Paweł 
Published: April 2022

AbstractConstantly developing monitoring systems provide a large amount of raw data. In many cases, the operators of water supply systems (WSS) have already reached their perception limit for analysing information. Therefore, the managing process of the WSS requires quasi-intelligent informatics systems, the main purpose of which is to minimise the WSS operating costs in addition to maintaining the proper water delivery to customers. It can be achieved by the detection of abnormal functioning of WSS operations (leakages, water outages). The standard SCADA monitoring systems, in most cases, are not able to distinguish a significant water leakage and water tank filling process. Such cases occur relatively often in complex water supply systems with many water tanks. The aim of this paper is to present the quasi intelligent method of detecting abnormal WSS functioning, including its concepts and effects after a 3 month period operation. The essence of the detection method is the integration of numerical model (built-in Bentley WaterGEMS software) and SCADA monitoring system. The monitoring data are constantly compared to the simulation results and when accepted accordance limits are exceeded, the appropriate alerts are generated. Such solution cause the WSS operator does not need to analyse SCADA system indications constantly. The additional application of the method enables the detection of essential water leakages.
Contribution of isotopic techniques to the knowledge of the aquiferous system of the great Sebkha of Oran
Authors: Benziane Ahmed , Boualla Nabila 
Published: April 2022

AbstractIn the Great Sebkha Basin of Oran, water flows, both surface and subterranean, originate on the slopes and converge toward the discharging area of the salt Lake Great Sebkha of Oran (≈ 80 m above sea level). Isotopic water tracing of 2H, 18O, 14C, and 13C was carried out on the main aquifer formations to clarify the phenomena of evaporation, dissolution, mixing of different water bodies, and their residence time in the aquifer system. The data concern: the salt Lake of the Great Sebkha of Oran, the Quaternary alluvial water table of the periphery, the limestone Miocene, the Brédéah pumping station (whose waters are polluted by brackish water intrusions), deepwater tabler table of the Mio-Pliocene complex of the Plain of Maflak, the Pliocene of the Plain of Tameira, and the Thermal Complex of Hammam Bou Hadjar. The d18O levels range from −9.61 to + 4.8 ‰ V-SMOW at the salt Lake of Great Sebkha of Oran. The 2H contents range from −70 to 20. Minimum values characterize run off from the northern slopes of the Tessala. The 13C contents of dissolved total inorganic carbon (TDI) measured ranged from −10.92 to −3.9 ‰ vs PDB. The activities of the 14C are divided between 2 and 51 PMC. The highest activity in 14C (≈50 PMC) is measured on samples taken from the Miocene limestones of Djebel Murdjadjo.
Multivariate and spatial methods-based water quality assessment of Chu Tran Valley, Gilgit Baltistan
Authors: Fatima Syeda Urooj , Khan Moazzam Ali , Alamgir Aamir , Mahmood Nadeem , Sulman Nasir 
Published: April 2022

AbstractCurrent study was performed to evaluate the physico-chemical, metals and microbial characteristics of the surface water available in Chu Tran valley located in sub-district Shigar of district Skardu, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. A total of 24 water samples were collected and analysed to determine the water quality index (WQI). Multivariate analysis comprising principal component analysis (PCA) and spatial distribution using inverse distance weight (IDW) interpolation were also employed to ascertain the water quality available in the valley and public health concern assessment. The results of WQI comprehended that physico-chemical characteristics of the water samples are excellent. However, the concentration of metals in water samples is higher than recommended WHO standards and public health quality of water supply is not satisfactory; therefore, the water in the valley is unfit of human consumption. Multivariate analysis with PCA technology identified important water quality parameters and revealed that metals and microbial concentrations are major later factors which have significant influence on the water quality. IDW-based spatial distribution indicates that water samples collected from the central part of the valley are highly contaminated with metals and microbial load. This is the region where the major human settlements are located and agricultural activities, domestic dischargers and erosion are the fundamental sources of water pollution. People have no choice except to consume the contaminated water as no other water supply is available and hardly question about the water quality. The study also proved that combination of WQI, PCA and IDW is effective and promising tools for surface water quality assessment in other areas in order to get accurate results for public health monitoring. It is recommended that the sources of contaminations can be further explored to reduce the pollution load of the surface water of Chu Tran Valley that might be helpful in the promotion of sustainable ecotourism.
Assessment of soil erosion risk in a semi-arid climate watershed using SWAT model: case of Tata basin, South-East of Morocco
Authors: Echogdali F. Z. , Boutaleb S. , Taia S. , Ouchchen M. , Id-Belqas M. , Kpan R. B. , Abioui M. , Aswathi J. , Sajinkumar K. S. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractIncreased sedimentation is the main problem that affects dam efficiency by reducing storage capacity. Planning for dam construction and maintenance requires design strategies that heavily depend on integrated basin models, properly identifying principal sediment origins within the watershed and qualifying the sediment production rate. In this research work, the physically-based watershed SWAT model, defined as the Soil and Water Assessment Tool, was used to estimate the rate of sediment production for future dams in the Tata basin, located in southeast Morocco. The model was calibrated and tested for uncertainty by the employment of the algorithm Sequential Uncertainty Fitting-2. The outputs were used for assessing critical sediment source areas. Calibration and validation of the model were performed by monthly data. The values for Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient, Percent bias coefficient and determination coefficient (R2), respectively, during the calibration period 1990–1998 (0.96, −13% and 0.96) and the validation period 1999–2006 (0.77, + 11% and 0.93) indicate the accordance with the results obtained for the measured flow and the simulated flow values. The annual sediment yield of the Tata basin extends from 0 to 11 t/ha/y with a mean of 2.3 t/ha/y. The spatial distribution of these sediments varies from upstream to downstream. The downstream basin generated more sediment to the river per unit area, though it was less than the total amount of the basin for the upstream area. This variation is influenced by the increased downstream surface runoff and also by other characteristics of the basin such as slope and lithology. The low erosion places correspond to areas with lithological formations that are more resistant to erosion.
Characterization of antimicrobial use and co-infections among hospitalized patients with COVID-19: a prospective observational cohort study
Authors: Lingscheid Tilman , Lippert Lena J. , Hillus David , Kruis Tassilo , Thibeault Charlotte , Helbig Elisa T. , Tober-Lau Pinkus , Pfäfflin Frieder , Müller-Redetzky Holger , Witzenrath Martin , Zoller Thomas , Uhrig Alexander , Opitz Bastian , Suttorp Norbert , Kramer Tobias S. , Sander Leif E. , Stegemann Miriam S. , Kurth Florian 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Purpose
To investigate antimicrobial use and primary and nosocomial infections in hospitalized COVID-19 patients to provide data for guidance of antimicrobial therapy.

Methods
Prospective observational cohort study conducted at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, including patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2-infection between March and November 2020.

Results
309 patients were included, 231 directly admitted and 78 transferred from other centres. Antimicrobial therapy was initiated in 62/231 (26.8%) of directly admitted and in 44/78 (56.4%) of transferred patients. The rate of microbiologically confirmed primary co-infections was 4.8% (11/231). Although elevated in most COVID-19 patients, C-reactive protein and procalcitonin levels were higher in patients with primary co-infections than in those without (median CRP 110 mg/l, IQR 51–222 vs. 36, IQR 11–101, respectively; p < 0.0001). Nosocomial bloodstream and respiratory infections occurred in 47/309 (15.2%) and 91/309 (29.4%) of patients, respectively, and were associated with need for invasive mechanical ventilation (OR 45.6 95%CI 13.7–151.8 and 104.6 95%CI 41.5–263.5, respectively), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (OR 14.3 95%CI 6.5–31.5 and 16.5 95%CI 6.5–41.6, respectively), and haemodialysis (OR 31.4 95%CI 13.9–71.2 and OR 22.3 95%CI 11.2–44.2, respectively). The event of any nosocomial infection was significantly associated with in-hospital death (33/99 (33.3%) with nosocomial infection vs. 23/210 (10.9%) without, OR 4.1 95%CI 2.2–7.3).

Conclusions
Primary co-infections are rare, yet antimicrobial use was frequent, mostly based on clinical worsening and elevated inflammation markers without clear evidence for co-infection. More reliable diagnostic prospects may help to reduce overtreatment. Rates of nosocomial infections are substantial in severely ill patients on organ support and associated with worse patient outcome.
From additive to transport noise in 2D fluid dynamics
Authors: Flandoli Franco , Pappalettera Umberto 
Published: April 2022

AbstractAdditive noise in Partial Differential equations, in particular those of fluid mechanics, has relatively natural motivations. The aim of this work is showing that suitable multiscale arguments lead rigorously, from a model of fluid with additive noise, to transport type noise. The arguments apply both to small-scale random perturbations of the fluid acting on a large-scale passive scalar and to the action of the former on the large scales of the fluid itself. Our approach consists in studying the (stochastic) characteristics associated to small-scale random perturbations of the fluid, here modelled by stochastic 2D Euler equations with additive noise, and their convergence in the infinite scale separation limit.