bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serum neurofilament light chain: a novel biomarker for early diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy
Authors: Maalmi Haifa , Strom Alexander , Petrera Agnese , Hauck Stefanie M. , Strassburger Klaus , Kuss Oliver , Zaharia Oana-Patricia , Bönhof Gidon J. , Rathmann Wolfgang , Trenkamp Sandra , Burkart Volker , Szendroedi Julia , Ziegler Dan , Roden Michael , Herder Christian ,   the GDS Group
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Aims/hypothesis
No established blood-based biomarker exists to monitor diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN) and evaluate treatment response. The neurofilament light chain (NFL), a blood biomarker of neuroaxonal damage in several neurodegenerative diseases, represents a potential biomarker for DSPN. We hypothesised that higher serum NFL levels are associated with prevalent DSPN and nerve dysfunction in individuals recently diagnosed with diabetes.

Methods
This cross-sectional study included 423 adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and known diabetes duration of less than 1 year from the prospective observational German Diabetes Study cohort. NFL was measured in serum samples of fasting participants in a multiplex approach using proximity extension assay technology. DSPN was assessed by neurological examination, nerve conduction studies and quantitative sensory testing. Associations of serum NFL with DSPN (defined according to the Toronto Consensus criteria) were estimated using Poisson regression, while multivariable linear and quantile regression models were used to assess associations with nerve function measures. In exploratory analyses, other biomarkers in the multiplex panel were also analysed similarly to NFL.

Results
DSPN was found in 16% of the study sample. Serum NFL levels increased with age. After adjustment for age, sex, waist circumference, height, HbA1c, known diabetes duration, diabetes type, cholesterol, eGFR, hypertension, CVD, use of lipid-lowering drugs and use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, higher serum NFL levels were associated with DSPN (RR [95% CI] per 1-normalised protein expression increase, 1.92 [1.50, 2.45], p<0.0001), slower motor (all p<0.0001) and sensory (all p≤0.03) nerve conduction velocities, lower sural sensory nerve action potential (p=0.0004) and higher thermal detection threshold to warm stimuli (p=0.023 and p=0.004 for hand and foot, respectively). There was no evidence for associations between other neurological biomarkers and DSPN or nerve function measures.

Conclusions/interpretation
Our findings in individuals recently diagnosed with diabetes provide new evidence associating higher serum NFL levels with DSPN and peripheral nerve dysfunction. The present study advocates NFL as a potential biomarker for DSPN.

Graphical abstract
Heat-assisted incremental sheet forming for high-strength materials — a review
Authors: Li Weining , Attallah Moataz M. , Essa Khamis 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Single-point incremental forming (SPIF) is a sheet forming technique that deforms sheet materials incrementally to a designated shape. The process has shown high ability to deform low-strength materials for good geometrical accuracy and formability at room temperature. Deforming high-temperature alloys, such as high-strength steels and Ti-6AI-4 V, requires integrated heat sources to increase the ductility of the metal sheets for deformation. However, the integration of heating results in unpredictable thermal behaviours and impacts the formability, geometric accuracy, thickness distribution and surface quality. Considerable research efforts have invented different heating methods and designed novel tools and analytical modelling to resolve the limitations. The current challenge remains improving the localised and stable heating, functional tool design to reduce the thermal expansion and friction at the tool-surface contact area and the analysis of relationship between thermal and mechanical effects. This study aims to review the heating-assisted SPIF systems for high-strength alloy sheets to solve the current limitations. The method includes analysis of heating systems, tool, tool path design, lubricants and macro- and micro-numerical analyses. Additionally, the study aims to correlate the microstructural properties to the mechanical behaviours and subsequent effects on forming force, strain, springback, geometrical accuracy and surface quality.
The dynamics of Pareto distributed wealth in a small open economy
Authors: Birkner Matthias , Scheuer Niklas , Wälde Klaus 
Published: December 2022

AbstractWe study a small open economy with labor, capital accumulation, random death, taxation and a government budget balanced in the long run. We offer methods that provide ordinary differential equations for means and analytical expressions for densities. The latter is achieved by solving stochastic differential equations analytically and deriving the density from this solution. Starting from any distribution, the aggregate distribution converges, both on a transition path towards a steady state and on a transition path towards balanced growth, to a Pareto-distribution. We provide an intuitive economic interpretation for a stationary long-run density with an infinite mean in an economy on a balanced growth path. We also show how government tax policy can lead to non-monotonic links between the equilibrium growth rate of the economy and risk aversion of households.
Definition of the symbiovar viciae in the species Rhizobium azibense and biogeographic implications
Authors: Shamseldin Abdelaal , Peix Alvaro , Velázquez Encarna 
Published: December 2022

AbstractVicia faba L. (faba bean) is a legume cultivated worldwide which commonly establishes effective symbiosis with the symbiovar viciae of species from the Rhizobium leguminosarum phylogenetic group. However, on the basis of the rrs, recA, and atpD gene phylogenies, in this work we identified a strain named EFBRI 42 nodulating V. faba as Rhizobium azibense. This is the first report on the nodulation of Vicia by R. azibense which commonly nodulates P. vulgaris and to date encompasses strains harboring the nodC genes typical of the symbiovars gallicum and phaseoli. However, the strain EFBRI 42 carries a nodC gene typical of the symbiovar viciae for which we report here by the first time this symbiovar in R. azibense. This finding showed the existence of symbiotic genes horizontal transfer events during the coevolution of R. azibense with P. vulgaris and V. faba in their respective distribution centers of Mesoamerica and the Middle East.
Short-and long-latency afferent inhibition of the human leg motor cortex by H-reflex subthreshold electrical stimulation at the popliteal fossa
Authors: Kato Tatsuya , Sasaki Atsushi , Nakazawa Kimitaka 
Published: December 2022

AbstractIn humans, peripheral sensory stimulation inhibits subsequent motor evoked potentials (MEPs) induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation; this process is referred to as short- or long-latency afferent inhibition (SAI or LAI, respectively), depending on the inter-stimulus interval (ISI) length. Although upper limb SAI and LAI have been well studied, lower limb SAI and LAI remain under-investigated. Here, we examined the time course of the soleus (SOL) muscle MEP following electrical tibial nerve (TN) stimulation at the popliteal fossa at ISIs of 20–220 ms. When the conditioning stimulus intensity was three-fold the perceptual threshold, MEP amplitudes were inhibited at an ISI of 220 ms, but not at shorter ISIs. TN stimulation just below the Hoffman (H)-reflex threshold intensity inhibited MEP amplitudes at ISIs of 30, 35, 100, 180 and 200 ms. However, the relationship between MEP inhibition and the P30 latency of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) did not show corresponding ISIs at the SEP P30 latency that maximizes MEP inhibition. To clarify whether the site of afferent-induced MEP inhibition occurs at the cortical or spinal level, we examined the time course of SOL H-reflex following TN stimulation. H-reflex amplitudes were not significantly inhibited at ISIs where MEP inhibition occurred but at an ISI of 120 ms. Our findings indicate that stronger peripheral sensory stimulation is required for lower limb than for upper limb SAI and LAI and that lower limb SAI and LAI are of cortical origin. Moreover, the direct pathway from the periphery to the primary motor cortex may contribute to lower limb SAI.
Impact of age on the prognosis of patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias and aborted cardiac arrest
Authors: Weidner Kathrin , Schupp Tobias , Rusnak Jonas , El-Battrawy Ibrahim , Ansari Uzair , Hoppner Jorge , Mueller Julian , Kittel Maximilian , Taton Gabriel , Reiser Linda , Bollow Armin , Reichelt Thomas , Ellguth Dominik , Engelke Niko , Große Meininghaus Dirk , Akin Muharrem , Bertsch Thomas , Akin Ibrahim , Behnes Michael 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
This study evaluated the prognostic impact of age on patients presenting with ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTA) and aborted cardiac arrest.

Material and methods
The present registry-based, monocentric cohort study included all consecutive patients presenting at the University Medical Center Mannheim (UMM) between 2002 and 2016 with ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF) and aborted cardiac arrest. Middle-aged (40–60 years old) were compared to older patients (> 60 years old). Furthermore, age was analyzed as a continuous variable. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality at 2.5 years. The secondary endpoints were cardiac death at 24 h, all-cause mortality at index hospitalization, all-cause mortality after index hospitalization and the composite endpoint at 2.5 years of cardiac death at 24 h, recurrent VTA, and appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) treatment.

Results
A total of 2259 consecutive patients were included (28% middle-aged, 72% older). Older patients were more often associated with all-cause mortality at 2.5 years (27% vs. 50%; hazard ratio, HR = 2.137; 95% confidence interval, CI 1.809–2.523, p = 0.001) and the secondary endpoints. Even patient age as a continuous variable was independently associated with mortality at 2.5 years in all types of VTA. Adverse prognosis in older patients was demonstrated by multivariate Cox regression analyses and propensity score matching. Chronic kidney disease (CKD), systolic left ventricular dysfunction (LVEF) < 35%, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and cardiogenic shock worsened the prognosis for both age groups, whereas acute myocardial infarction (STEMI/NSTEMI) and the presence of an ICD improved prognosis.

Conclusion
The results of this study suggest that increasing age is associated with increased mortality in VTA patients. Compared to the middle-aged, older patients were associated with higher all-cause mortality at 2.5 years and the secondary endpoints.
Resonanter Hochspannungsgenerator für beschleunigte Lebensdauer- und Teilentladungs-Untersuchungen an Isolationsfolien
Authors: Aspalter Paul , Vogelsberger Markus , Ertl Hans 
Published: December 2022

ZusammenfassungDie nun verfügbaren Wide-Bandgap-Halbleiter sind durch ihre hohen Schaltgeschwindigkeiten Schlüsselbauelemente zukünftiger leistungselektronischer Konverter. Ihre Anwendung setzt allerdings auch induktive Bauelemente wie Glättungsinduktivitäten und Trafo- bzw. Motorwicklungen voraus, die wesentlich höheren du/dt-Werten längerfristig standhalten. Im Rahmen des vorliegenden Beitrags wird deshalb ein einfaches und kostengünstiges Konzept eines Prüfspannungsgenerators für Lebensdauertests bei Isolationsfolien vorgestellt, mit welchem Prüfspannungen im Bereich von typ. 8 kVss im Frequenzbereich bis ca. 1 MHz aufwandsminimal erzeugt werden können. Der Generator basiert auf einem selbstschwingenden Resonanzkreis angeregt von einer Niederspannungs-MOSFET-Halbbrücke und benötigt auch keine Hochspannungs-Versorgung. Der Beitrag beinhaltet die Dimensionierung und das Design des Prototyps, präsentiert Messergebnisse, demonstriert die mögliche Erhöhung der Betriebsfrequenz durch den Übergang von Si-MOSFETs zu GaN-Bauelementen und zeigt Schaltungs- bzw. Steuerungsvarianten zur weiteren Steigerung der Betriebsfrequenz und/oder des Wirkungsgrades mittels Soft Switching.
Synthesis of coumarin-containing poly(2-oxazoline)s and light-induced crosslinking for hydrogel formation
Authors: Haslinger Carola , Zahoranová Anna , Baudis Stefan 
Published: December 2022

AbstractHerein, we present a new route to synthesize poly(2-oxazoline)s (POx) with coumarin moieties as pendant groups that can be crosslinked by irradiation to form hydrogels. The synthesis of a novel coumarin-containing 2-oxazoline monomer, 2-[(4-methyl-7-coumarinyloxy)methyl]oxazoline is described in four steps and further its subsequent homo- and copolymerization with 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline (EtOx) via cationic ring-opening polymerization (CROP). The received polymers with different coumarin content (8, 4 and 2 mol%) were compared with a known copolymer synthesized via postpolymerization modification of partially hydrolyzed poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEtOx) with a coumarin derivative. The thermoresponsive behavior of the POx in aqueous solutions was investigated, showing a clear difference in the cloud point temperature (Tcp) between the polymers synthesized via different strategies. The hydrogel formation was achieved by irradiation with UV light by the following two methods: on the one hand with the pure coumarin-containing POx and on the other hand mixed with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA). The obtained hydrogels were compared regarding their swelling degree and their gel content, whereas the swelling degree in water of prepared hydrogels can be tuned by using POx by varying the coumarin content.
Graphical abstract
Foaming of oxidized nanocellulose for the preparation of high-flux water filters
Authors: Fortea-Verdejo Marta , Jiang Qixiang , Bismarck Alexander , Mautner Andreas 
Published: December 2022

AbstractTreatment of polluted water is an important task to secure access to clean water also for future generations. Filters are an efficient means to reject various pollutants on a wide range of size scales either by size-exclusion or electrostatic interaction, respectively. Commonly, filters and membranes from various synthetic materials are employed for these applications. Recently, filters based on renewable (nano) cellulose papers and coatings emerged as sustainable alternative to synthetic materials usually utilized. However, fabrication of such paper network structures from aqueous suspension by filtration processes is a time-consuming process caused by the high water holding capacity of highly hydrophilic and negatively charged nanocellulose fibrils. To optimize the preparation of nanocellulose coated filters, substitution of water by air and thus generating nanocellulose foams that are collapsed onto a substrate would be an appealing approach. Here we present the development of foams from negatively charged TEMPO-oxidized nanocellulose by screening various surfactants and concentrations to generate a foam stable enough to be transferred onto a viscose substrate. Foams were collapsed by oven consolidation, positive pressure filtration, or hot-pressing, respectively. Consolidated filters were tested for their water permeance and rejection of heavy metal ions using copper ions as model system. Very high permeances competitive to commercial filters based on synthetic polymers were achieved. Furthermore, adsorption capacities for copper of up to 70 mg/g were found. This is close to adsorption capacities reported for negatively charged TEMPO-oxidized nanocellulose in conventional batch-wise static adsorption. However, in the current process adsorption takes place during filtration of water through filters in a continuous process which constitutes a tremendous advantage.
Graphical Abstract
Testing cognitive models of decision-making: selected studies with starlings
Authors: Kacelnik Alex , Vasconcelos Marco , Monteiro Tiago 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe behavioural sciences are home to controversies that have survived for centuries, notably about the relation between observable behaviour and theoretical constructs addressing out-of-sight processes in the agents’ brains. There is no shared definition for cognition, but the very existence of a thriving journal called Animal Cognition proves that such controversies are still live and help to (a) promote research on the complexity of processes leading to action, and (b) nudge scholars to restrict their cognitive models to those that can be falsified experimentally. Here, we illustrate some of these issues in a limited arena, focusing on the construction and expression of subjective value and choice. Using mainly work from our own laboratory, we show that valuation of alternatives is sensitive to options’ properties, to subject’s state, and to background alternatives. These factors exert their influence at the time the subject learns about individual options, rather than at choice time. We also show that valuation can be experimentally dissociated from the cognitive representation of options’ metrics and argue that experimental animals process options independently at the time of choice, without elaborated comparisons along different dimensions. The findings we report are not consistent with the hypothesis that preference is constructed at the time of choice, a prevalent view in human decision-making research. We argue that animal cognition, viewed as a research program at the crossroads of different behavioural sciences rather than as a debate about properties of mental life, is inspiring and solid, and a progressive and progressing paradigm.
Urban scale risk assessment including SSI and site amplification
Authors: Amendola Chiara , Pitilakis Dimitris 
Published: December 2022

AbstractLarge-scale risk analysis is typically performed considering existing fragility curves, calculated in most cases without adequately accounting for local site amplification (SAmp) and soil-structure interaction (SSI) effects. Nevertheless, foundation flexibility and local site effects may lead to a substantial difference in the fragility or loss estimates. Including these effects on the city-scale vulnerability analysis is challenging due to the complexity of defining the whole interacting urban system. We propose a novel framework for the fragility assessment of structures considering the influence of SSI and local site amplification effects, suitable for large-scale applications. The applicability of the proposed approach is based on globally available data regarding the soil, the foundation, and the building portfolio. Site amplification is considered directly in the resulting fragility curves using site response analyses. An improved taxonomy is adopted to make the approach implementable in the OpenQuake software, introducing VS,30 and H/B within the structural features as proxies for the site and SSI effects. Finally, following the performance-based earthquake engineering framework, the outcomes of the methodological framework are adopted to estimate the nominal probability of failure for selected building classes belonging to the majority of structural types of the city of Thessaloniki, Northern Greece. The main findings demonstrate that the conventional way of calculating fragility curves may lead to a different seismic risk evaluation, especially in soft soil formations.
Response of a high-speed train travelling over a long and high-pier viaduct during moderate earthquakes
Authors: Olmos José M. , Astiz Miguel Á. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThis contribution presents the results of numerical simulations in which a high-pier viaduct under lateral and vertical non-stationary spatially variable seismic ground motions is crossed by an articulated high-speed train at several speeds. The spectral representation method is employed to generate the required number of acceleration time-history series at each support location of the railway viaduct studied. Wave passage, local soil conditions and loss of coherency effects have been accounted for in the simulated ground-motion time histories, with several peak ground accelerations. Train and bridge responses have been obtained by means of a non-linear dynamic interaction multibody and finite element model. An analysis of train running safety indices has been carried out. The properties of earthquakes and train speeds which may cause problems to traffic safety are detailed, as is the train derailment probability. The numerical simulation outcomes show that it is not safe for the train to travel over the studied viaduct in earthquakes with peak ground acceleration equal to 0.03 g and for train speeds above 280 km/h.
Recombinant endo-inulinases: determination the activation and deactivation energies and optimum temperatures in inulin hydrolysis
Authors: Miłek Justyna 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe aim of paper was to determine the activation, deactivation energies and optimum temperatures for recombinant endo-inulinases of various origins, including also recombinant endo-inulinases from Aspergillus niger, Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Yarrowia lipolytica. The activity recombinant endo-inulinases of various origins vs. temperature curves were analyzed. A mathematical model describing the effect of temperature on recombinant endo-inulinase activity was used. Based on the analysis, values of the activation energies E were in the range from $${22.08 \pm 13.94}$$

22.08
±
13.94

kJ mol$$^{-1}$$

-
1

to $${62.62 \pm 17.24}$$

62.62
±
17.24

kJ mol$$^{-1}$$

-
1

and in the range from $${29.80 \pm 8.83}$$

29.80
±
8.83

kJ mol$$^{-1}$$

-
1

to $${92.69 \pm 15.31}$$

92.69
±
15.31

kJ mol$$^{-1}$$

-
1

for recombinant endo-inulinase A. niger and various origins, respectively. The deactivation energies $${E_{\mathrm{D}}}$$

E
D

were from the range from $${146.80 \pm 20.31}$$

146.80
±
20.31

kJ mol$$^{-1}$$

-
1

to $${301.95 \pm 95.81}$$

301.95
±
95.81

kJ mol$$^{-1}$$

-
1

and in the range from $${159.96 \pm 14.80}$$

159.96
±
14.80

kJ mol$$^{-1}$$

-
1

to $${289.43 \pm 21.18}$$

289.43
±
21.18

kJ mol$$^{-1}$$

-
1

for recombinant endo-inulinase A. niger and various origins, respectively. The optimum temperatures $${T_{\mathrm{opt}}}$$

T
opt

were obtained in the range from $${328.67 \pm 1.32}$$

328.67
±
1.32

K to $${335.94 \pm 1.22}$$

335.94
±
1.22

K and in the range from $${319.41 \pm 0.85}$$

319.41
±
0.85

K to $${338.53 \pm 0.45}$$

338.53
±
0.45

K for recombinant endo-inulinase A. niger and various origins, respectively.
Collision Integrals for Nitrogen and Hydrogen Ionized Gas: The Exact Values and Assessment of Approximations
Authors: Buchowiecki Marcin , Szabó Péter 
Published: December 2022

AbstractCollision integrals are calculated for the H–N$$^{+}$$+, N–H$$^{+}$$+, N$$^{2+}$$2+–H, and N$$^{+}$$+–H$$^{+}$$+interactions in the temperature range of 1000–60,000 K. The resulting collision integrals were fitted to simple functional forms. The applicability of commonly used approximations for calculation of the collision integrals is verified. Those approximations are simplification of exact potentials (especially the repulsive ones), use of polarizability potential for atom–ion interaction, and use of Coulomb screened potential for ion–ion interaction. The reported collision integrals are based on the ab initio calculated points of the potential energy curves, so that the error of fitting the points with analytical potential energy function is not present.