bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prognostic value of soluble urokinase‐type plasminogen activator receptor in coronary artery disease: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Li Yang , Ding Yaqun , Zhao Yinjie , Gui Yongqing , Shen Yajing , Xiang Qiang 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBackgroundA potential inflammatory biomarker, soluble urokinase‐type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) has been utilized to assist the prognostic assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients; however, outcomes have been inconsistent. The prognostic relevance of suPAR as a predictor of CAD patient adverse outcomes was therefore examined.MethodsResearch articles published as of 1 January 2022 were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, the Web of Science and the Cochrane Library. All‐cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and other major cardiovascular events (nonfatal myocardial infarction, heart failure or stroke) were analysed as a subset of relevant studies' results. We calculated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each study. The broad EQUATOR guidelines were conformed. Risk of bias was assessed with ROBINS‐I tool.ResultsIn total, this analysis included nine studies including 14,738 CAD patients. All included studies made a correction for certain potential confounders. However, risk of bias ranged from moderate to critical. When the ROBINS‐I tool was used. Patients with CAD that exhibited increased suPAR levels had a substantially higher risk of all‐cause mortality (HR = 2.24; 95% CI 1.97–2.55) or cardiovascular mortality (HR = 2.02; 95% CI 1.58–2.58), but not of developing other major cardiovascular events (HR = 1.63; 95% CI 0.86–3.11). Considerable heterogeneity across studies was observed in our meta‐analyses, but no significant publication bias was detected.ConclusionIn patients with coronary disease, suPAR may have prognostic value for both all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality but not for other major cardiovascular events.
Long‐term fatigue following aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage and the impact on employment
Authors: Gaastra Ben , Carmichael Harry , Galea Ian , Bulters Diederik 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBackground and purposeFatigue is common following aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) but little is known about its frequency, prognosis and impact on employment. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of fatigue, whether it changes over time and the relationship to employment in the long term.MethodsThis was a retrospective observational study of aSAH cases and matched controls from the UK Biobank. The presence of fatigue was compared between cases and controls using the chi‐squared test. The change in frequency over time was assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. The effect of fatigue on employment was assessed using mediation analysis.ResultsFatigue is more common following aSAH compared to matched controls (aSAH 18.7%; controls 13.7%; χ2 = 13.0, p < 0.001) at a mean follow‐up of 123 months. Fatigue gradually improves over time with significant fatigue decreasing by 50% from ~20% in the first year to ~10% after a decade (p = 0.04). Fatigue significantly mediated 24.0% of the effect of aSAH status on employment.ConclusionsFatigue is common following aSAH and persists in the long term. It gradually improves over time but has a major impact on aSAH survivors, significantly contributing to unemployment following haemorrhage. Further work is required to develop treatments and management strategies for fatigue with a view to improving this symptom and consequently employment following aSAH.
On the effects of higher order stress terms in pure mode III loading of bi‐material notches
Authors: Bahrami Bahador , Ayatollahi Majid R. , Mehraban Mohammad R. , Nejati Morteza , Berto Filippo 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe effects of higher order terms (HOTs) on the stress distribution at the vicinity of the sharp corner of two bonded dissimilar materials were investigated under pure out‐of‐plane (mode III) loading. To achieve this aim, finite element (FE) analysis in conjunction with the over‐deterministic technique were performed for two specimens, each containing four different notch opening angles. The coefficients of singular and non‐singular stress terms were then computed from the displacement field determined from the FE analysis. The elastic stresses obtained directly from the FE analysis were compared with those reconstructed from the truncated series expansions, in order to validate the accuracy of the calculated coefficients. The numerical results show that although the contribution of HOTs in the out‐of‐plane stress field is less than that of the in‐plane notch problems, ignoring their effects can lead to considerable errors in the stress field estimation. The magnitude of numerical error depends on the geometry and loading conditions of the bi‐material notch.
Experiments and numerical simulations on dynamic crack behavior at the interface of layered brittle material
Authors: Zhou Jun , Yue Zhongwen , Feng Chun , Wang Peng , Yue Xiaolei , Tao Tiejun 
Published: August 2022

AbstractCrack behavior at the interface between two materials is the core problem of layered material fracturing. In this paper, first, experimental tests were conducted on layered material using a drop weight test system following the caustics method. The layered material was made of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and epoxy resin bonded with Loctite‐330 at two inclination angles (30° and 60°). A corresponding numerical simulation was carried out using continuum–discontinuum element methods. Crack propagation is found to mainly occur in mode I in the PMMA and epoxy resin but follows a mixed cracking mode at the interface. The fracture parameters of the crack tip in the layered materials changed substantially owing to the existence and change of the interface structure. After the crack enters the interface, the crack propagation speed increases significantly. Higher crack dip angles are associated with greater crack propagation speed increases after entering the interface. The simulation results indicate that the interface strength properties affect crack behavior at the interface. This effect also varies as a function of interface inclination and impact velocity.
Using plant diversity to reduce vulnerability and increase drought resilience of permanent and sown productive grasslands
Authors: Lüscher Andreas , Barkaoui Karim , Finn John A. , Suter Daniel , Suter Matthias , Volaire Florence 
Published: August 2022

AbstractClimate change associated with a greater variability of inter‐ and intra‐annual droughts and the occurrence of extreme events act in combination to challenge semi‐natural and sown productive grasslands in Europe. Successful plant strategies under drought strongly depend on stress intensity. Drought resistance to maintain leaf growth under moderate stress trades off with drought survival after growth cessation under life‐threatening drought. Substantial intra‐specific variability exists in key forage grasses originating from the Mediterranean to the cool‐temperate climates and represents a great potential for adaptation of future ecotypes and cultivars to a larger range of drought intensities. Plant species diversity offers an opportunity to stabilize forage production in two ways. First, growth reduction under stress is significantly smaller for diverse compared to simple plant communities because the former offers the opportunity to include drought‐resistant (or drought‐surviving) species. Second, positive interactions among species increase ecosystem functioning of more diverse plant communities under moderate drought, allowing them to compensate for drought‐induced yield reductions. Currently, available cultivars of perennial forage species adapted to dry climate are still rare and only a few forage species are used in productive systems. Thus, both intra‐ and inter‐specific plant diversity should be better valued to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience of productive grasslands.
Zirconium oxycarbides and oxycarbonitrides: A review
Authors: Kucheryavaya Anastasia , Lenčéš Zoltán , Šajgalík Pavol , Harmuth Harald 
Published: August 2022

AbstractZirconium oxycarbides and zirconium oxycarbonitrides are high‐temperature ceramic materials with great potential for applications in advanced technologies due to their good refractoriness, mechanical and thermoelectric properties, and corrosion resistance. The properties of ZrCO(N) materials strongly depend on their composition. However, the stoichiometry of stable ZrCO(N) compounds, synthesis chemistry, and thermodynamics of the proceeding reactions require clarification. This review comprehensively interprets data for ZrCO and ZrCON ceramics, including studies that may not have been addressed in prior reviews. It summarizes the state‐of‐the‐art synthesis procedures involving reactions between commonly used zirconia, zirconium carbide, and carbon black, along with other zirconium sources widely used in the last few decades for the preparation of ZrCO(N) materials. The controversial reaction mechanisms of carbothermal reduction of zirconia and the role of CO gas in this process are discussed. The properties of ZrCO and ZrCON and their possible applications are also summarized.
Notch1 signalling controls the differentiation and function of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Li Xiaojing , Fei Fei , Yao Genhong , Yang Xixi , Geng Linyu , Wang Dandan , Gao Yingying , Hou Yayi , Sun Lingyun 
Published: August 2022

AbstractEmerging studies have reported the expansion of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in some autoimmune disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but the detailed molecular mechanisms of the aberrant expansion in SLE are still unclear. In the present study, we confirmed that the increased MDSCs positively correlated with disease activity in SLE patients. The suppressive capacity of MDSCs from patients with high activity was lower than that of MDSCs from patients with low activity. Moreover, the potential precursors for MDSCs, common myeloid progenitors (CMPs) and granulocyte–monocyte progenitors (GMPs), were markedly increased in the bone marrow (BM) aspirates of SLE patients. As an important regulator of cell fate decisions, aberrant activation of Notch signalling was reported to participate in the pathogenesis of SLE. We found that the expression of Notch1 and its downstream target gene hairy and enhancer of split 1 (Hes‐1) increased markedly in GMPs from SLE patients. Moreover, the Notch1 signalling inhibitor DAPT profoundly relieved disease progression and decreased the proportion of MDSCs in pristane‐induced lupus mice. The frequency of GMPs was also decreased significantly in lupus mice after DAPT treatment. Furthermore, the inhibition of Notch1 signalling could limit the differentiation of MDSCs in vitro. The therapeutic effect of DAPT was also verified in Toll‐like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonist‐induced lupus mice. Taken together, our results demonstrated that Notch1 signalling played a crucial role in MDSC differentiation in SLE. These findings will provide a promising therapy for the treatment of SLE.
The diagnostic value of blood sample NGS in patients with early periprosthetic joint infection after total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Zhang Bingshi , Li Mengnan , Liu Yawei , Zhang Binquan , Liu Zeming , Chen Xiao , Huo Jia , Han Yongtai 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe diagnostic value of next‐generation sequencing (NGS) of blood samples from patients with periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) was evaluated by comparing it with drainage fluid NGS and bacterial culture. The study was designed as a retrospective diagnostic test. Thirty‐six infected patients were diagnosed with PJI according to the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) criteria and 57 volunteers were included in our study. NGS and bacterial culture were chosen to detect PJI after THA. Blood samples and drainage fluid were collected for NGS, and the drainage fluid, which was collected at the same time as the NGS drainage fluid sample, was used for bacterial culture. The primary outcomes of interest were sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. In the infection group, 31 patients showed positive results by blood sample NGS, 33 patients showed positive results by drainage fluid NGS, and 17 patients showed positive bacterial culture results. In the control group, the results of 2 blood sample NGS, 16 drainage fluid NGS, and 3 bacterial cultures were positive. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the blood sample were 0.86, 0.96, and 0.92, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the drainage fluid samples were 0.92, 0.72, and 0.80, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of bacterial culture were 0.47, 0.95, and 0.79, respectively. The study demonstrated that both the sensitivity and specificity of NGS were higher than those of bacterial culture, regardless of the kind of sample. Compared with drainage fluid NGS, the sensitivity of blood sample NGS was slightly lower (0.86 vs 0.92), but blood sample NGS showed higher specificity (0.96 vs 0.72). In total, the diagnostic value of blood sample NGS was superior to that of drainage fluid NGS and bacterial culture. The majority of infected patients could be identified by blood sample NGS. Moreover, because of its high specificity, blood sample NGS can not only detect infectious bacteria but also distinguish infectious from non‐infectious bacteria, which is dramatically different from using drainage fluid NGS.
Millennial land use explains modern high‐elevation vegetation in the submediterranean mountains of Southern Europe
Authors: Morales‐Molino César , Leunda Maria , Morellón Mario , Gardoki Jon , Ezquerra F. Javier , Muñoz Sobrino Castor , Rubiales Juan M. , Tinner Willy 
Published: August 2022

AbstractAimPinewood decline and scrubland expansion are major features of Late Holocene vegetation history in the Cantabrian Range. However, the drivers of this remarkable vegetation shift remain to be investigated. Here, we aim at disentangling the role of past land use and climate in shaping the high‐elevation Cantabrian landscape during the past two millennia.LocationCantabrian Range (northern Iberia).TaxaPinus sylvestris, Betula, Ericaceae, Juniperus, Poaceae.MethodsWe conducted high‐resolution multiproxy palaeoecological analyses (pollen, plant macrofossils, microscopic charcoal and dung fungi) on lake sediments from Lago del Ausente to reconstruct vegetation, fire occurrence and grazing through time. The chronology is based on 14C (terrestrial plant macrofossils) and 210Pb dating, and Bayesian age‐depth modelling (‘rbacon’). We carried out cross‐correlation analysis to quantify vegetation responses to fire.ResultsBetween 250 and 900 CE, the vegetation above 1700 m a.s.l. consisted of subalpine scrubland and scattered P. sylvestris trees/stands. Pinewoods with Betula were widespread at slightly lower elevation. This vegetation was resilient to moderate fire disturbance associated with limited pastoral activities. In contrast, enhanced fire occurrence alongside heavier pastoralism led to the demise of pinewoods and their replacement with Betula stands, subalpine scrublands, and meadows between 900 and 1100 CE. Later, the subalpine scrubland‐birch tree line did not respond to Little Ice Age cooling. However, further intensification of transhumant herding between 1300 and 1860 CE (‘La Mesta’) triggered birch decline and the establishment of the modern treeless landscape.Main conclusionsThe extant high‐elevation vegetation of the Cantabrian Range is largely the legacy of intensive land use starting more than one millennium ago. Recurrent and severe fires to promote pasturelands led to the regional extirpation of the previously widespread Pinus sylvestris. Future management should aim at preserving the valuable cultural open landscape of mountain scrubland and meadows and also at restoring patches of ancient pine‐birch woodlands.
Dietitian‐supported dietary intervention leads to favorable dietary changes in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kawabata Nao , Okada Kenta , Ando Akihiko , Kurashina Tomoyuki , Takahashi Manabu , Wakabayashi Tetsuji , Nagata Daisuke , Arakawa Yukiko , Haga Atsuko , Kogure Ayako , Chiba Madoka , Mogi Satsuki , Ishikawa Shizukiyo , Ishibashi Shun 
Published: August 2022

AbstractAims/IntroductionIt remains to be fully elucidated whether nutrition education by dietitians can lead to specific positive changes in the food choices of patients with diabetes.Materials and MethodsA total of 96 patients with type 2 diabetes and diabetic kidney disease were randomly assigned to the intensive intervention group that received nutritional education at every outpatient visit and the control group that received nutritional education once a year. The total energy intake, energy‐providing nutrients and 18 food groups were analyzed at baseline, and 1 and 2 years after the intervention in 87 patients. Furthermore, the relationship between the changes in hemoglobin A1c, body composition and changes in the total energy or energy‐producing nutrient intake was analyzed in 48 patients who did not use or change hypoglycemic agents during the study period.ResultsThe total energy intake, carbohydrates, cereals, confections, nuts and seeds, and seasonings significantly decreased, and fish and shellfish intake significantly increased during the study period in the intensive intervention group, whereas these changes were not observed in the control group. The decrease in the total energy intake and carbohydrates after 2 years was significantly greater in the intensive intervention group than in the control group. The change in the total energy and carbohydrate intake showed a significant positive correlation with that in muscle mass. The multivariate analysis showed that the decrease in total energy intake was independently associated with that in muscle mass.ConclusionDietitian‐supported intensive dietary intervention helps improve the diet of patients with type 2 diabetes.
Using average nucleotide identity (ANI) to evaluate microsporidia species boundaries based on their genetic relatedness
Authors: de Albuquerque Nathalia R. M. , Haag Karen L. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractMicrosporidia are obligatory intracellular parasites related to fungi and since their discovery their classification and origin has been controversial due to their unique morphology. Early taxonomic studies of microsporidia were based on ultrastructural spore features, characteristics of their life cycle and transmission modes. However, taxonomy and phylogeny based solely on these characteristics can be misleading. SSU rRNA is a traditional marker used in taxonomical classifications, but the power of SSU rRNA to resolve phylogenetic relationships between microsporidia is considered weak at the species level, as it may not show enough variation to distinguish closely related species. Overall genome relatedness indices (OGRI), such as average nucleotide identity (ANI), allows fast and easy‐to‐implement comparative measurements between genomes to assess species boundaries in prokaryotes, with a 95% cutoff value for grouping genomes of the same species. Due to the increasing availability of complete genomes, metrics of genome relatedness have been applied for eukaryotic microbes taxonomy such as microsporidia. However, the distribution of ANI values and cutoff values for species delimitation have not yet been fully tested in microsporidia. In this study we examined the distribution of ANI values for 65 publicly available microsporidian genomes and tested whether the 95% cutoff value is a good estimation for circumscribing species based on their genetic relatedness.
Frailty and affective disorders throughout adult life: A 5‐year follow‐up of the Lifelines Cohort Study
Authors: Borges Marcus K. , Jeuring Hans W. , Marijnissen Radboud M. , van Munster Barbara C. , Aprahamian Ivan , van den Brink Rob H. S. , Hoogendijk Emiel O. , Oude Voshaar Richard C. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBackgroundFrailty is an important concept for risk stratification in clinical practice, but it is hardly acknowledged at all in mental healthcare settings. This paper aims to assess the impact of frailty on the course of depression and anxiety, and the impact of these affective disorders on the course of frailty.MethodsLifelines, a prospective population‐based cohort study, evaluated 167,729 people living in the northern Netherlands. Frailty was based on the deficit accumulation model, which resulted in a 60‐item frailty index (FI) at baseline and a 35‐item FI at baseline and 5‐year follow‐up. Current depressive and anxiety disorders were assessed with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview according to DSM‐IV criteria. Bidirectional associations between frailty and affective disorders were investigated using separate multivariable regression analyses in younger (<60 years) and older adults (≥60 years).ResultsThe FI was associated with the onset of a depressive disorder (younger adults: odds ratio [OR] = 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11–1.13; older adults: OR = 1.13; 95% CI 1.09–1.16) as well as any anxiety disorder (younger adults: OR = 1.10; 95% CI 1.09–1.10; older adults: OR = 1.07; 95% CI 1.04–1.09). The other way around, depressive disorder and anxiety disorders were associated with an accelerated increase of frailty over time (depressive disorder: younger adults: beta [β] = 0.03, p < 0.001; older adults: β = 0.04, p < 0.001; and any anxiety disorder: younger adults: β = 0.02, p < 0.001; older adults: β = 0.01, p < 0.142), although the effect of anxiety disorders was less equivocal among older adults.ConclusionsAffective disorders are reciprocally related to frailty. Results with respect to the impact of anxiety disorders on frailty suggest most impact at lower levels of frailty. Our results might imply that interventions to slow biological aging should be broadened towards younger and middle‐aged people as well as non‐frail older patients. To develop targeted treatment, future clinical and epidemiologic studies on the underlying pathways of this bidirectional association are needed.
BioClay™ prolongs RNA interference‐mediated crop protection against Botrytis cinerea
Authors: Niño‐Sánchez Jonatan , Sambasivam Prabhakaran T. , Sawyer Anne , Hamby Rachael , Chen Angela , Czislowski Elizabeth , Li Peng , Manzie Narelle , Gardiner Donald M. , Ford Rebecca , Xu Zhi Ping , Mitter Neena , Jin Hailing 
Published: August 2022

ABSTRACTOne of the most promising tools for the control of fungal plant diseases is spray‐induced gene silencing (SIGS). In SIGS, small interfering RNA (siRNA) or double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) targeting essential or virulence‐related pathogen genes are exogenously applied to plants and postharvest products to trigger RNA interference (RNAi) of the targeted genes, inhibiting fungal growth and disease. However, SIGS is limited by the unstable nature of RNA under environmental conditions. The use of layered double hydroxide or clay particles as carriers to deliver biologically active dsRNA, a formulation termed BioClay™, can enhance RNA durability on plants, prolonging its activity against pathogens. Here, we demonstrate that dsRNA delivered as BioClay can prolong protection against Botrytis cinerea, a major plant fungal pathogen, on tomato leaves and fruit and on mature chickpea plants. BioClay increased the protection window from 1 to 3 weeks on tomato leaves and from 5 to 10 days on tomato fruits, when compared with naked dsRNA. In flowering chickpea plants, BioClay provided prolonged protection for up to 4 weeks, covering the critical period of poding, whereas naked dsRNA provided limited protection. This research represents a major step forward for the adoption of SIGS as an eco‐friendly alternative to traditional fungicides.