bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of chronic kidney disease on the extent and severity of coronary plaque burden in general population: evaluation by Coronary CT angiography
Authors: Huang Shao-Sung , Hsu Pai-Feng , Lu Tse-Min , Chan Wan-Leong , Lin Shing-Jong , Chen Jaw-Wen , Leu Hsin-Bang 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background Previous studies have reported an association between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and coronary artery calcification. However, data on the quantitative assessment of coronary plaques in patients with CKD without overt coronary events are limited. The current study aimed to examine the association of CKD with the composition and burden of coronary atherosclerotic plaques in the general population.
Methods The authors studied 1747 subjects who underwent coronary computed tomographic angiography as part of health checkup. Atherosclerotic plaque burden was measured by atheroma burden obstructive score (ABOS), segment involvement score (SIS), and segment stenosis score (SSS). Based on the number of segments with plaques, the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) was categorized as non-extensive (SIS ≤4 or SSS <7) or extensive (SIS >4 or SSS ≥7).
Results In all participants, calcified plaques were more frequently detected than mixed or non-calcified plaques. Regarding the grade of luminal stenosis, obstructive plaques (> 50% stenosis) were more frequently observed in the CKD group than in the non-CKD group. Individuals with CKD had significantly higher ABOS, SIS, and SSS than those without CKD. After adjusting for traditional risk factors, CKD was independently associated with obstructive mixed plaques (odds ratio [OR]: 1.937, P=0.012) and extensive CAD (SIS >4 [OR: 1.645; P=0.043]; SSS ≥7 [OR: 1.660; P=0.045]). Subgroup analyses revealed no significant heterogeneity between CKD and obstructive mixed plaques in each subgroup. However, a more prominent association between CKD and the risk of extensive CAD was observed in subjects aged <65 years.
Conclusions Renal dysfunction was independently associated with obstructive mixed plaque pattern and increased atherosclerotic plaque burden. Our findings support that CKD is a major risk factor for the development of obstructive and extensive CAD.
Mothers' Lived Experience of Caring for Children with Inborn Errors of Amino Acid Metabolism
Authors: Shirdelzade Sara , Heydari Abbas , Ramezani Monir , Eshraghi Peyman 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background
Inborn errors of amino acid metabolism are chronic conditions which have many sequels. Mothers of these children are facing different challenges which are underdetermined. This study was done to explore lived experience of mothers caring these children.
Methods
This is an interpretive phenomenology with Van Manen's approach which has 6 steps. Data were gathered by convenience and purposeful sampling. Nine mothers with different experiences were interviewed and audio taped.
Results
Six final themes were revealed from the exploring mothers' experiences including: future tied to past, psychosis in the shadow of lost ideal child, rebellion and blaming, the ways of escaping difficulties, self-forgetting in the shadow of full time care, passing difficulties in the duality of hope-hopelessness, caring in a continuum of isolation-socialization.
Conclusions
Mothers have multiple challenges in taking care of their children, especially psychologically and financially. So, nurses must plan programs for helping mothers of children with inborn errors of amino acid metabolism to reduce the effects of disease on mothers and consequently the children and whole family.
Investigation on the adsorption-desorption behavior of antibiotics by polybutylene succinate and polypropylene aged in different water conditions
Authors: Fan Xiulei , Li Weiyi , Alam Easar , Cao Binwen , Qian Shenwen , Shi Shang , Yang Yangyang 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are widely present in the aqueous environment and aged by natural components, such as salinity (SI) and dissolved organic matter (DOM). The effects of multi-conditioned ageing on the physicochemical properties and environmental behavior of MPs are not completely investigated. In this study, the degradable MPs polybutylene succinate (PBS) was used to investigate the environmental behavior of sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), and compared it with polypropylene (PP). The results showed that the single conditions of DOM and SI, particularly DOM, promoted the ageing process of MPs more significantly, especially for PBS. The degree of MPs ageing under multiple conditions is lower than that of under single condition. Compared to PP, PBS has a greater specific surface area, crystallinity and hydrophilicity, so it has a stronger adsorption capacity for SMZ. The adsorption behavior of MPs fitted well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Freundlich isotherm models, indicating a multilayer adsorption. The desorption experiments showed that the desorption amount of SMZ on MPs in simulated intestinal fluid was greater than that in Milli-Q water. Both the original PBS and the aged PBS had a stronger desorption capacity than the PP. The desorption quantity of PBS was 1.23–1.84 times greater than PP, while the desorption rates were not significantly different. This experiment would provide a theoretical basis for assessing the ecological risks of degradable MPs in complex water conditions.
Reliability and Validity of PARENTS Tool for Assessment of Pediatric Residents’ Non- Technical Skills in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital of Pakistan
Authors: Talat Nabila , Khan Rehan Ahmed , Aziz Muhammad Usama , Tahir Warda , Mirza Muhammad Bilal 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background: Non-Technical Skills (NTS) of post graduate residents (PGR) are as important as their clinical skills. Other than direct observation of supervisors, the feedback of caregivers provides an objective assessment of medical residents’ ability to effectively deal with patients. Our research objective was to test the validity and reliability of an instrument named “PARENTS Tool” in a local environment and its use to evaluate NTS of residents at the hospital.
Methods: This multi-phase mixed-method study used an Instrument Design Model called PARENTS Tool to assess NTS of residents. The PARENTS tool was translated into Urdu for our local environment and administered in the emergency department of Children’s Hospital and The University of Child Health Sciences.
Results: The authors collected data from 471 parents and coded them for analysis in AMOS and SPSS. Both tests met acceptance criteria to establishes the validity and reliability of the Urdu version of PARENTS tool. Results showed that parents were satisfied with the knowledge and skill of residents but less satisfied with the patience or empathy that the residents showed towards the children under their care.
Conclusion:PARENTS has shown to be valid and reliable tool for measuring the NTS of residents from the patient’s perspective. Medical administrators can use PARENTS as a performance measurement tool for monitoring the soft side of patient care.
High-risk factors associated with refractory childhood bacterial meningitis
Authors: Wu Jin-Feng , Song XiaoJie , Hu Yue , Chen Jin , Jiang Li 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background
Refractory bacterial meningitis is acute, it develops rapidly, and mortality and morbidity are higher than in cases of common bacterial meningitis. This study was undertaken to investigate the high-risk factors related to refractory bacterial meningitis cases in children with positive pathogens.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed clinical data for 109 cases of childhood bacterial meningitis. Cases were divided into a refractory group (96 cases) and non-refractory group (13 cases) based on classification criteria. 17 clinical variables on risk factors were extracted and evaluated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.
Results
There were 64 males and 45 females. The onset age range was from 1 month old to 14 years old, and the median age was 181 days old. the pathogenic bacteria include 67 cases of Gram-positive(G+) bacteria (61.5%) and 42 cases of Gram-negative (G-)bacteria. In patients 1 to 3 months old, E. coli was the most common (47.5%), followed by Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus haemolyticus (10.0%); in patients > 3 months old, S. pneumoniae was the most common (55.1%), followed by E. coli (8.7%). Multivariate analysis indicated that consciousness disorder (odds ratio [OR] = 13.050), peripheral blood C-reactive protein(CRP) ≥ 50 mg/L (OR = 29.436), andthe isolate bacteria being Gram-positive bacteria (OR = 8.227) were independent risk factors for predicting who would progress to refractory bacterial meningitis in this group.
Conclusion
For pathogenic positive bacterial meningitis along with consciousness disorder, CRP ≥ 50 mg/L, and/or the isolate bacteria being G + bacteria, it is important to be alert to the potential for progression to refractory bacterial meningitis, which demands the physicians’ significant attention.
Drastic time variations of transfer function of geomagnetically induced current (GIC) in Japan
Authors: Nakamura Satoko , Ebihara Yusuke , Watari Shinichi , Goto Tadanori 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) flow in power grid in response to geomagnetic field variations. Because of the potential threat of power outage, GIC is regarded as one of the important aspects of space weather. We calculated the transfer function in frequency domain that describes a linear relationship between the GICs measured at 3 substations in Japan and the geomagnetic field measured at the Kakioka observatory. The transfer function is found to show a significant time variation. For the periods at 2-10 minutes, the amplitude of the transfer function in night time is about 1 order of magnitudes larger than in day time. The day-night difference reduces for the periods >100 minutes. In addition, the amplitude of the transfer function tends to increase with local rainfall amount. These regular and irregular variations may be explained in terms of earthing resistivity depending on local weather conditions. The resistivity of the non-frozen soil decreases by about 40% when the temperature increases from 15°C to 35°C, resulting in the reduction of the earthing resistivity. Rainwater permeating into the soil also results in reduction of the earthing resistivity. Reduction of the earthing resistivity gives rise to magnification of the GICs. These results imply that a weather condition strongly affects the magnitude of GIC in Japan and challenge the conventional wisdom that the transfer function is almost steady in this time scale.
Multi-Fidelity Surrogate Modelling of Wall Mounted Cubes
Authors: Mole Andrew , Skillen Alex , Revell Alistair 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
This paper focuses on the application of multi-fidelity surrogate modelling to characteristics of a flow as it changes with a parameter.This provides insight into the potential of combining multi-fidelity modelling approaches with varying fidelities of computational fluid dynamics methods to a parameter space exploration.A limited number of trusted high-fidelity large eddy simulation data points, in combination with an extended study using lower-fidelity Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes modelling is used as the input for the surrogate model.Multi-fidelity surrogate models are implemented to bridge the low-fidelity and high-fidelity models providing an improved surrogate model over using a single fidelity alone.The flow around tandem wall mounted cubes at varying inlet yaw angle is used as an aerodynamic test case for this methodology.Results presented show that the multi-fidelity surrogate modelling provides a significant improvement over single fidelity modelling for the prediction of global flow properties.This methodology is then extended to combine multiple local flow features into the multi-fidelity model to build up fuller descriptions of the flow at angles not included in the training data for the model.The results of this are presented for both one-dimensional line plots at a range of locations along the center line of the flow and for two-dimensional slices of the velocity field.The multi-fidelity surrogate model produces results at locations in the parameter space away from the high fidelity training data that match closely to large eddy simulation results.
Impact of drug burden index on delirium in community-dwelling older adults with dementia: A longitudinal observational study
Authors: Katipoglu Bilal , Demircan Sultan Keskin , Naharcı Mehmet Ilkin 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background
The Drug Burden Index (DBI) is a validated tool for assessing the dose-dependent cumulative exposure to sedative and anticholinergic medications. However, the increased risk of delirium superimposed dementia (DSD) with high DBI levels has not yet been investigated.
Aim
This study aimed to examine the longitudinal association between high DBI levels and delirium in community-dwelling older adults with dementia.
Method
A total of 1105 participants with cognitive impairment underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment. Experienced geriatricians made the final diagnosis of delirium based on DSM-IV-TR and DSM-V. We calculated the DBI as the sum of all sedatives and anticholinergics taken continuously for at least four weeks before admission. We classified the participants as having no exposure (DBI=0), low exposure (0<DBI<1), and high exposure (DBI≥1).
Results
Of the 721 patients with dementia, the mean age was 78.3±6.7 years, and the majority were female (64.4%). In the whole sample, low and high exposures to anticholinergic and sedative medications at admission were 34.1% (n=246) and 38.1% (n=275), respectively. Patients in the high-exposure group had higher physical impairment (p=0.01), higher polypharmacy (p=0.01), and higher DBI scores (p=0.01). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, high exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications increased the risk of delirium 4.09-fold compared to the no exposure group (HR=4.09, CI: 1.63-10.27, p=0.01).
Conclusion
High exposure to drugs with sedative and anticholinergic properties was common in community-dwelling older adults. A high DBI was associated with DSD, highlighting the need for an optimal prescription in this vulnerable population.
Trial registration
The trial was retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier: NCT04973709 Registered on 22 July 2021.
Electrical, Microstructural and Physical characteristics of talc-based cordierite ceramics
Authors: Yahya Ahmed , Soltan AbdelMonem , Mahani Ragab , El-Kaliouby Baher , Kenawy Sayed , Hamzawy Esmat 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
The aim of this work is to study the effect of various talc rocks for the preparation of talc-based cordierite ceramics. Raw talc and sintered cordierite-based ceramic samples (1000-1375ºC for 2h) were characterized using XRD, XRF, TGA-DTG, laser PSDs, Archimedes method, SEM-EDAX and dielectric relaxation spectrometer (DRS). Results show that impurity oxide contents, particle size and mineralogical changes of green batches influenced the microstructure densification and crystallization of orthorhombic and hexagonal cordierite. The complex electric modulus plot shows the existence of two relaxation processes associated with the capacitive contribution grain boundaries and grain at low and high frequencies, respectively. The dielectric loss reached much lower values (0.0004-0.0007) for the ceramics composed of higher cordierite phase composition (87.00 to 92.00wt.%) that sintered at 1350 and 1375ºC. Such ceramics could be promising in electronic applications like capacitors, microwave devices and wireless communication.
A hybrid depressive mood analysis model to detect blogger depression tendency from web posts
Authors: Tung Chia-Ming , Lu Wen-Hsiang 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
In recent years, reports of suicide have continuously increased due to people suffering from tremendous pressure or depression. According to World Health Organization (WHO), globally, 5% of adults suffer from mental disorders. This kind of mental disorder is difficult to diagnose and detect. In our previous works, we proposed a Negative Emotion Evaluation (NEE) model and an Event-Driven Depression Tendency Warning (EDDTW) model to detect depressive moods in advance. In this work, we combine the previous models to propose a Hybrid Depressive Mood Analysis (HDMA) model to predict depression from web posts. The experimental results show that our proposed hybrid depressive mood analysis model obtains over 70% precision.
Investigating The Role of GABAergic Activity and Saccadic Movements in The Contour Perception Using a Simulation of The Brodmann’s Area 17
Authors: Koçak Orhan Murat , Hasanlı Jamal , Mısır Emre , Solakoğlu Taha , Alici Yasemin Hosgoren , Gurcan Ahmet , Yılmaz Asim Egemen , Gokcekuyu Yasemin , Ceran Selvi , Bagcaz Arda , Kaya Zulal Torenli , Ay Sule Bıcakcı , Bilgili Gamze Ozcurumez 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background: The Broadman Area 17 (V1) has a good representation of retinotopic map. Similarity between visual input and the representation of it in V1 would be affected from both an intrinsic noise and the saccadic eye movements. GABA’s role in increasing signal to noise ratio is known but, how GABAergic activity helps to control noise, based on input and saccades, has not been modelled.
Methods: A computational model of V1 was designed by using the MATLAB 2021a platform, and different six images, each containing a circle, triangle, and square, were used to test the model. The developed V1 was constituted of six different orientation columns (OCs). Each OC contains GABAergic and glutamatergic connections. Thus, OCs were activated not only based on afferent image inputs but also on the interaction among fired columns via the sum of glutamate and GABAergic neuron weights. V1 representation states for twelve, twenty and thirty saccades were summed and visualized. Finally, the original and representational forms of the image were compared. In the model, GABA activity levels have been tuned and the results of each level analysed.
Results: It has been shown that level of GABA activity in the orientation columns during saccades is a critical factor for an ideal image representation. Decreased levels of GABA activity can be associated with inadequacy of noise elimination which could impair correct contour perception.
Conclusion: Orientation columns can be conceptualized as microprocessors of V1. In this region, images are represented with high similarity. This similarity seems to need efficient GABAergic activity.
Epileptic Seizure Prediction Based on Multiresolution Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Ibrahim Ali , zhuang hanqi , Tognoli Emmanuelle , Ali Ali Muhamed , Erdol nurgun 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Epilepsy withholds patients' control of their body or consciousness and puts them at risk in the course of their daily life. This paper pursues the development of a smart neurocomputational technology to alert epileptic patients wearing EEG sensors of an impending seizure. An innovative approach to epileptic seizure prediction is proposed to improve prediction accuracy and reduce false alarm rate in comparison with state of art benchmarks. Maximal Overlap Discrete Wavelet Transform is used to decompose EEG signals into different frequency resolutions, and a Multiresolution Convolutional Neural Network is designed to extract discriminative features from each frequency band. The algorithm automatically generates patient-specific features to best classify preictal and interictal segments of the subject. The method can be applied to any patient case from any dataset without the need for a handcrafted feature extraction procedure. The proposed approach was tested with two popular epilepsy patient datasets. It achieved a sensitivity of 82% and a false prediction rate of 0.058 with the Children’s Hospital Boston-MIT scalp EEG dataset, and a sensitivity of 85% and a false prediction rate of 0.19 with the American Epilepsy Society Seizure Prediction Challenge dataset. This technology provides a personalized solution for the patient that has improved sensitivity and specificity, yet, because of the algorithm's intrinsic ability for generalization, it emancipates from the reliance on epileptologists' expertise to tune a wearable technological aid, which ultimately will help deploy it broadly, including in medically-underserved locations in the globe.
Cu2O@TiO2 Core-shell Microspheres for Naphthalene Oxidation
Authors: Wang Xu , Xu Gen , Zhou Zhiwei , Qin XiaoJuan , Su Yuansha , Zhang Xianbin , Wu Wenliang 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
New Cu2O@TiO2 core-shell microspheres were successfully prepared for the first time in this paper. The XRD, N2 adsorption-desorption, SEM, TEM, EDX and XPS characterizations were utilized to investigate the physical and chemical properties. The liquid phase oxidation of naphthalene was also carried out to test their catalytic performance. The characterization results indicating that the Cu2O microspheres were firstly formed by hydrothermal treatment and the rutile TiO2 coating on the surface would be formed by the hydrolysis of tetrabutyl titanate. The Cu2O@TiO2-5.0 catalyst with the molar ratio of copper to titanium species as high as 5.0 has the largest surface area and maximum pore volume resulting from the integrated microspheres with rougher surface thickness of about 6.3 nm, and it showed higher catalytic performance in the naphthalene liquid phase oxidation. Naphthalene conversion of 43.2%, 1, 4-naphthoquinone selectivity of 26.7% and phthalic anhydride selectivity of 53.4% can be obtained, and it only slightly decreased even after repeated use for 5 times. The method would provide a valuable theoretic reference for the hindrance of Cu2O rapid deactivation and the industrial application of the naphthalene oxidation to produce high valuable chemicals.
Usefulness of Large Beam-shaping Filters at Different Tube Voltages of newborn chest CT
Authors: Masuda Takanori , Funama Yoshinori , Nakaura Takeshi , Sato Tomoyasu , Urayama Kotaro , Kiguchi Masao , Oku Takayuki , Yoshida Masato , Arao Shinnichi , Ono Atsushi , Hiratsuka Junichi , Awai Kazuo 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background: To investigate optimizing the use of different beam shaping filters (viz. small, medium and large) when using different tube voltages during the newborn chest computed tomography (CT) examination.
Methods: We used pediatric anthropomorphic phantoms with a 64 detector-row CT scanner while scanning the chest. A real-time skin dosimeter was placed on the scanner gantry and was inserted into the phantom center of the body, the surface of the body back, and the right and left mammary glands. We performed and compared six scan protocols using small, medium, and large beam shaping filters at 80 and 120 kVp protocols.
Result: There were no significant differences in the image noise for the chest scan among the different beam shaping filters. By using the large beam shaping filter at 80 kVp, it was possible to reduce the exposure dose by 5% in comparison with the small beam shaping filter, and by 10% in comparison with the medium beam shaping filter. By using the large beam shaping filter at 120 kVp, it was possible to reduce the exposure dose by 15% in comparison with the small beam shaping filter and by 20% in comparison with the medium beam shaping filter (p < 0.01).
Conclusion: The large beam shaping filter had the most dose reduction effect during newborn chest CT. However, the exposure dose reduction rate was low when the lower tube voltage was used.