bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
GENetic characteristics and REsponse to lipid-lowering therapy in familial hypercholesterolemia: GENRE-FH study
Authors: Kim Hyoeun , Lee Chan Joo , Pak Hayeon , Kim Doo-Il , Rhee Moo-Yong , Lee Byoung Kwon , Ahn Youngkeun , Cho Byung-Ryul , Woo Jeong-Taek , Hur Seung-Ho , Jeong Jin-Ok , Lee Ji Hyun , Lee Sang-Hak 
Published: November 2020

AbstractAmong the 146 patients enrolled in the Korean FH registry, 83 patients who had undergone appropriate LLT escalation and were followed-up for ≥ 6 months were analyzed for pathogenic variants (PVs). The achieved percentage of expected low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction (primary variable) and achievement rates of LDL-C < 70 mg/dL were assessed. The correlations between the treatment response and the characteristics of PVs, and the weighted 4 SNP-based score were evaluated. The primary variables were significantly lower in the PV-positive patients than in the PV-negative patients (p = 0.007). However, the type of PV did not significantly correlate with the primary variable. The achievement rates of LDL-C < 70 mg/dL was very low, regardless of the PV characteristics. Patients with a higher 4-SNP score showed a lower primary variable (R2 = 0.045, p = 0.048). Among evolocumab users, PV-negative patients or those with only defective PVs revealed higher primary variable, whereas patients with at least one null PV showed lower primary variables. The adjusted response of patients with FH to LLT showed significant associations with PV positivity and 4-SNP score. These results may be helpful in managing FH patients with diverse genetic backgrounds.
Comparison of variables measured with a Scheimpflug device for evaluation of progression and detection of keratoconus
Authors: Neuhann Sophie , Schuh Anna , Krause Daniel , Liegl Raffael , Schmelter Valerie , Kreutzer Thomas , Mayer Wolfgang J. , Kohnen Thomas , Priglinger Siegfried , Shajari Mehdi 
Published: November 2020

AbstractKeratoconus is a progressive ectatic corneal disorder, which can result in severe visual impairment. The new ABCD keratoconus classification system allows differentiated description of the disease. Aim of the study was to evaluate the components of this novel staging system (ARC, PRC, thinnest pachymetry) as well as topometric indices, deviation of normality indices, and other parameters in terms of repeatability and reliability. 317 eyes with keratoconus were examined twice with a Scheimpflug device (Pentacam, Oculus). Bland Altman analysis and intraclass correlations were carried out to evaluate the parameters repeatability and reliability. Apart from IHA (ICC = 0.730), all parameters showed excellent reliability (ICC > 0.900). ARC, PRC, thinnest pachymetry, Kmax, CKI, KI, Rmin, and Progression Avg were the best repeatable parameters with relative repeatability values < 2.5%. Other parameters performing well in terms of repeatability were IHD, ISV, IVA, and final D (RR < 13%). Regression analysis revealed consistently high repeatability along all stages of keratoconus for PRC, thinnest pachymetry, and CKI. All parameters of the ABCD staging system showed excellent reliability and repeatability, PRC and thinnest pachymetry even at all stages of keratoconus and can consequently be reliably used in the determination of keratoconus progression.
Plastic deformation as nature of femtosecond laser writing in YAG crystal
Authors: Fedotov S. S. , Butvina L. N. , Okhrimchuk A. G. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractLongitudinal inhomogeneity of tracks inscribed in a YAG crystal and the statistics of nonlinear transmittance of the writing beam is studied under conditions of direct femtosecond laser writing in non-thermal mode. Nonlinear transmittance fluctuations inherent in the laser writing were discovered, and their correlation with track inhomogeneity is established. A model of femtosecond laser writing in crystals is built that includes three modes of plastic deformation in the laser impact zone. The modification threshold of the femtosecond direct laser writing is identified with reaching yield stress.
Naturally-occurring myopia and loss of cone function in a sheep model of achromatopsia
Authors: Ross Maya , Ofri Ron , Aizenberg Itzhak , Abu–Siam Mazen , Pe’er Oren , Arad Dikla , Rosov Alexander , Gootwine Elisha , Dvir Hay , Honig Hen , Obolensky Alexey , Averbukh Edward , Banin Eyal , Gantz Liat 
Published: November 2020

AbstractAchromatopsia is an inherited retinal disease characterized by loss of cone photoreceptor function. Day blindCNGA3mutant Improved Awassi sheep provide a large animal model for achromatopsia. This study measured refractive error and axial length parameters of the eye in this model and evaluated chromatic pupillary light reflex (cPLR) testing as a potential screening test for loss of cone function. Twenty-oneCNGA3mutant, Improved Awassi, 12 control Afec-Assaf and 12 control breed-matched wild-type (WT) Awassi sheep were examined using streak retinoscopy and B-mode ocular ultrasonography. FourCNGA3mutant and four Afec-Assaf control sheep underwent cPLR testing. Statistical tests showed that day-blind sheep are significantly more myopic than both Afec-Assaf and WT Awassi controls. Day-blind sheep had significantly longer vitreous axial length compared to WT Awassi (1.43 ± 0.13 and 1.23 ± 0.06 cm, respectively, p < 0.0002) and no response to bright red light compared to both controls. Lack of response to bright red light is consistent with cone dysfunction, demonstrating that cPLR can be used to diagnose day blindness in sheep. Day-blind sheep were found to exhibit myopia and increased vitreous chamber depth, providing a naturally occurring large animal model of myopia.
Lateral position during severe mono-lateral pneumonia: an experimental study
Authors: Meli Andrea , Barbeta Viñas Enric , Battaglini Denise , Li Bassi Gianluigi , Yang Hua , Yang Minlan , Bobi Joaquim , Motos Ana , Fernández-Barat Laia , Chiumello Davide , Pelosi Paolo , Torres Antoni 
Published: November 2020

AbstractPatients with mono-lateral pneumonia and severe respiratory failure can be positioned in lateral decubitus, with the healthy lung dependent, to improve ventilation-perfusion coupling. Oxygenation response to this manoeuvre is heterogeneous and derecruitment of dependent lung has not been elucidated. Nine pigs (32.2 ± 1.2 kg) were sedated and mechanically ventilated. Mono-lateral right-sided pneumonia was induced with intrabronchial challenge of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. After 24 h, lungs were recruited and the animals were randomly positioned on right or left side. After 3 h of lateral positioning, the animals were placed supine; another recruitment manoeuvre was performed, and the effects of contralateral decubitus were assessed. Primary outcome was lung ultrasound score (LUS) of the dependent lung after 3-h lateral positioning. LUS of the left non-infected lung worsened while positioned in left-lateral position (from 1.33 ± 1.73 at baseline to 6.78 ± 4.49; p = 0.005). LUS of the right-infected lung improved when placed upward (9.22 ± 2.73 to 6.67 ± 3.24; p = 0.09), but worsened in right-lateral position (7.78 ± 2.86 to 13.33 ± 3.08; p < 0.001). PaO2/FiO2 improved in the left-lateral position (p = 0.005). In an animal model of right-lung pneumonia, left-lateral decubitus improved oxygenation, but collapsed the healthy lung. Right-lateral orientation further collapsed the diseased lung. Our data raise potential clinical concerns for the use of lateral position in mono-lateral pneumonia.
Variability in somatic embryo-forming capacity of spinach
Authors: Belić Maja , Zdravković-Korać Snežana , Uzelac Branka , Ćalić Dušica , Pavlović Suzana , Milojević Jelena 
Published: November 2020

AbstractHigh variability in somatic embryo (SE)-forming capacity has previously been observed in several spinach cultivars. Such variability frequently accounted for more variation in embryogenic response of the explants than the factor being investigated. Hence, the variability in embryogenic capacity was examined in the present study at both the population and the single-seedling level, using seeds of spinach cultivar Matador obtained from nine European seed companies. Seed population obtained from Slovenia (Sl) was superior to others, with the highest regeneration frequency (100%) and the highest mean SE number (14.4). A total of 82% of these seedlings had 80–100% of regenerating explants, while in populations with intermediate embryogenic capacity approximately 40% of seedlings had 20–60% of regenerating explants. The explants from the majority of seedlings (52–100%) in the least responsive populations were irresponsive. Furthermore, the explants from Sl seedlings regenerated from 10–20 (43.5%) up to > 20 (27.6%) SEs on average, while the explants from the majority of seedlings belonging to other populations regenerated 1–10 SEs. The present study strongly indicates that the variability of plant material must not be overlooked, because choosing more responsive individuals for one treatment and less responsive ones for another may lead to misinterpretation of the data.
Speech in noise perception improved by training fine auditory discrimination: far and applicable transfer of perceptual learning
Authors: Gao Xiang , Yan Tingting , Huang Ting , Li Xiaoli , Zhang Yu-Xuan 
Published: November 2020

AbstractA longstanding focus of perceptual learning research is learning specificity, the difficulty for learning to transfer to tasks and situations beyond the training setting. Previous studies have focused on promoting transfer across stimuli, such as from one sound frequency to another. Here we examined whether learning could transfer across tasks, particularly from fine discrimination of sound features to speech perception in noise, one of the most frequently encountered perceptual challenges in real life. Separate groups of normal-hearing listeners were trained on auditory interaural level difference (ILD) discrimination, interaural time difference (ITD) discrimination, and fundamental frequency (F0) discrimination with non-speech stimuli delivered through headphones. While ITD training led to no improvement, both ILD and F0 training produced learning as well as transfer to speech-in-noise perception when noise differed from speech in the trained feature. These training benefits did not require similarity of task or stimuli between training and application settings, construing far and wide transfer. Thus, notwithstanding task specificity among basic perceptual skills such as discrimination of different sound features, auditory learning appears readily transferable between these skills and their “upstream” tasks utilizing them, providing an effective approach to improving performance in challenging situations or challenged populations.
A first look at the metabolic rate of Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) in the Canadian Arctic
Authors: Ste-Marie Eric , Watanabe Yuuki Y. , Semmens Jayson M. , Marcoux Marianne , Hussey Nigel E. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractMetabolic rate is intricately linked to the ecology of organisms and can provide a framework to study the behaviour, life history, population dynamics, and trophic impact of a species. Acquiring measures of metabolic rate, however, has proven difficult for large water-breathing animals such as sharks, greatly limiting our understanding of the energetic lives of these highly threatened and ecologically important fish. Here, we provide the first estimates of resting and active routine metabolic rate for the longest lived vertebrate, the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus). Estimates were acquired through field respirometry conducted on relatively large-bodied sharks (33–126 kg), including the largest individual shark studied via respirometry. We show that despite recording very low whole-animal resting metabolic rates for this species, estimates are within the confidence intervals predicted by derived interspecies allometric and temperature scaling relationships, suggesting this species may not be unique among sharks in this respect. Additionally, our results do not support the theory of metabolic cold adaptation which assumes that polar species maintain elevated metabolic rates to cope with the challenges of life at extreme cold temperatures.
Differences in static postural control between top level male volleyball players and non-athletes
Authors: Borzucka Dorota , Kręcisz Krzysztof , Rektor Zbigniew , Kuczyński Michał 
Published: November 2020

AbstractIt is argued that elite athletes often demonstrate superior body balance. Despite the apparent significance of perfect balance ability in volleyball, little is known about the specific nature of postural control adjustments among first-rate volleyball competitors. This study compared postural performance and strategies in quiet stance between world vice-champions and young, healthy, physically active male subjects. The center-of-pressure (COP) signals recorded on a force plate were used to compute several measures of sway. In both axes of movement, athletes had lower COP range, but not its standard deviation and higher COP speed and frequency than controls. These findings indicate that postural regulation in athletes was more precise and less vulnerable to external disturbances which support optimal timing and precision of actions. Postural strategies in athletes standing quietly were similar to those exhibited by non-athletes performing dual tasks. It demonstrates a significant effect of sport practice on changes in postural control. In anterior–posterior axis, athletes displayed a much higher COP fractal dimension and surprisingly lower COP–COG frequency than controls. This accounts for their high capacity to use diversified postural strategies to maintain postural stability and significantly reduced the contribution of proprioception to save this function for carrying out more challenging posture-motor tasks.
CRISPR/Cas9 as an antiviral against Orthopoxviruses using an AAV vector
Authors: Siegrist Cathryn M. , Kinahan Sean M. , Settecerri Taylor , Greene Adrienne C. , Santarpia Joshua L. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractA vaccine for smallpox is no longer administered to the general public, and there is no proven, safe treatment specific to poxvirus infections, leaving people susceptible to infections by smallpox and other zoonotic Orthopoxviruses such as monkeypox. Using vaccinia virus (VACV) as a model organism for other Orthopoxviruses, CRISPR–Cas9 technology was used to target three essential genes that are conserved across the genus, including A17L, E3L, and I2L. Three individual single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) were designed per gene to facilitate redundancy in rendering the genes inactive, thereby reducing the reproduction of the virus. The efficacy of the CRISPR targets was tested by transfecting human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells with plasmids encoding both SaCas9 and an individual sgRNA. This resulted in a reduction of VACV titer by up to 93.19% per target. Following the verification of CRISPR targets, safe and targeted delivery of the VACV CRISPR antivirals was tested using adeno-associated virus (AAV) as a packaging vector for both SaCas9 and sgRNA. Similarly, AAV delivery of the CRISPR antivirals resulted in a reduction of viral titer by up to 92.97% for an individual target. Overall, we have identified highly specific CRISPR targets that significantly reduce VACV titer as well as an appropriate vector for delivering these CRISPR antiviral components to host cells in vitro.
Association of dietary approaches to stop hypertension eating style and risk of sarcopenia
Authors: Soltani Sanaz , Hashemi Rezvan , Heshmat Ramin , Motlagh Ahmadreza Dorosty , Esmaillzadeh Ahmad 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe association between habitual intake of the “dietary approaches to stop hypertension” (DASH) eating plan and sarcopenia has received limited attention. The present study aimed to investigate the association between adherence to DASH dietary pattern and sarcopenia and its components including muscle mass, muscle strength, and muscle performance among community-dwelling older adults population. This population-based cross-sectional study was performed in 2011 among 300 older people (150 men and 150 women) aged ≥ 55 years, who were selected using cluster random sampling method. Dietary intake of study participants were examined by the use of a Block-format 117-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The DASH score was constructed based on eight main foods and nutrients emphasized or minimized in the DASH diet. All components of sarcopenia was measured using standard protocols and sarcopenia was defined based on both former and new European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) guidelines. Mean age and BMI of study participants were 66.7 ± 7.7 years and 27.3 ± 4.2 kg/m2, respectively. Totally, 31 individuals meet the criteria of EWGSOP2-sarcopenia. We found no significant association between adherence to the DASH diet and EWGSOP2-sarcopenia either before (OR 1.08; 95% CI 0.45–2.54) or after adjustment for potential confounders (OR 1.04; 95% CI 0.39–2.75). The same findings were obtained in the gender-stratified analyses (men: OR 2.29; 95% CI 0.39–13.29 and women: 0.75; 95% CI 0.23–2.45). In conclusion, we found that adherence to the DASH-style diet was not significantly associated with odds of sarcopenia. Future prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.
A fast and fully-automated deep-learning approach for accurate hemorrhage segmentation and volume quantification in non-contrast whole-head CT
Authors: Arab Ali , Chinda Betty , Medvedev George , Siu William , Guo Hui , Gu Tao , Moreno Sylvain , Hamarneh Ghassan , Ester Martin , Song Xiaowei 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThis project aimed to develop and evaluate a fast and fully-automated deep-learning method applying convolutional neural networks with deep supervision (CNN-DS) for accurate hematoma segmentation and volume quantification in computed tomography (CT) scans. Non-contrast whole-head CT scans of 55 patients with hemorrhagic stroke were used. Individual scans were standardized to 64 axial slices of 128 × 128 voxels. Each voxel was annotated independently by experienced raters, generating a binary label of hematoma versus normal brain tissue based on majority voting. The dataset was split randomly into training (n = 45) and testing (n = 10) subsets. A CNN-DS model was built applying the training data and examined using the testing data. Performance of the CNN-DS solution was compared with three previously established methods. The CNN-DS achieved a Dice coefficient score of 0.84 ± 0.06 and recall of 0.83 ± 0.07, higher than patch-wise U-Net (< 0.76). CNN-DS average running time of 0.74 ± 0.07 s was faster than PItcHPERFeCT (> 1412 s) and slice-based U-Net (> 12 s). Comparable interrater agreement rates were observed between “method-human” vs. “human–human” (Cohen’s kappa coefficients > 0.82). The fully automated CNN-DS approach demonstrated expert-level accuracy in fast segmentation and quantification of hematoma, substantially improving over previous methods. Further research is warranted to test the CNN-DS solution as a software tool in clinical settings for effective stroke management.
A model of visual limitation in patients with keratoconus
Authors: Pérez-Rueda Antonio , Castro-Luna Gracia 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThis paper aims to calculate a relevance model of visual limitation (V.L.) in keratoconus patients based on refractive and topographic parameters. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Torrecárdenas Hospital, Almería, Spain, between February 2018 and July 2019. It included 250 keratoconus patients. Two groups were created according to a grading system of V.L. based on RETICS (Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud) classification: keratoconus patients with no V.L. (best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) ≤ 0.05 logMAR) and keratoconus patients with V.L. (BSCVA > 0.05 logMAR). Correlations and a binary logistic regression were established. V.L. was correlated with maximum curvature (r = 0.649, p < 0.001) and root mean square higher-order aberrations (HOARMS) (r = 0.625, p < 0.001). Binary logistic regression included V.L. as the dependent variable and spherical equivalent, HOARMS, spherical aberration and interaction between the anterior and posterior vertical coma as independent variables. The model was a good fit. Area under the curve (A.U.C.) of receiver operating characteristic (R.O.C.) curve was 0.924, sensitivity 91.90%, specificity 83.60%, accuracy 88.94%; and precision 91.17%. Binary logistic regression model of V.L. is a good fit model to predict the early loss of visual acuity in keratoconus patients.
Biases in national and continental flood risk assessments by ignoring spatial dependence
Authors: Nguyen Viet Dung , Metin Ayse Duha , Alfieri Lorenzo , Vorogushyn Sergiy , Merz Bruno 
Published: November 2020

AbstractRecently, flood risk assessments have been extended to national and continental scales. Most of these assessments assume homogeneous scenarios, i.e. the regional risk estimate is obtained by summing up the local estimates, whereas each local damage value has the same probability of exceedance. This homogeneity assumption ignores the spatial variability in the flood generation processes. Here, we develop a multi-site, extreme value statistical model for 379 catchments across Europe, generate synthetic flood time series which consider the spatial correlation between flood peaks in all catchments, and compute corresponding economic damages. We find that the homogeneity assumption overestimates the 200-year flood damage, a benchmark indicator for the insurance industry, by 139%, 188% and 246% for the United Kingdom (UK), Germany and Europe, respectively. Our study demonstrates the importance of considering the spatial dependence patterns, particularly of extremes, in large-scale risk assessments.
Connectivity between nidopallium caudolateral and visual pathways in color perception of zebra finches
Authors: Hsiao Yi-Tse , Chen Ta-Ching , Yu Pin-Huan , Huang Ding-Siang , Hu Fung-Rong , Chuong Cheng-Ming , Chang Fang-Chia 
Published: November 2020

AbstractResearchers demonstrated an elegant ability for red discrimination in zebra finches. It is interested to understand whether red activates exhibit much stronger response than other colors in neural network levels. To reveal the question, local field potentials (LFPs) was recorded and analyzed in two visual pathways, the thalamofugal and the tectofugal pathways, of zebra finches. Human studies demonstrate visual associated telencephalons communicate with higher order brain areas such as prefrontal cortex. The present study determined whether a comparable transmission occurs in zebra finches. Telencephalic regions of the thalamofugal (the visual Wulst) and the tectofugal pathway (the entopallium) with their higher order telencephalon, nidopallium caudolateral (NCL) were simultaneously recorded. LFPs of relay nuclei (the nucleus rotundus, ROT) of tectofugal pathway were also acquired. We demonstrated that LFP powers in the tectofugal pathway were higher than those in the thalamofugal pathway when illuminating blue lights. In addition, the LFP synchronization was stronger between the entopallium and NCL. LFPs also revealed a higher Granger causality from the direction of entopallium to NCL and from ROT to entopallium. These results suggest that zebra finches’ tectofugal pathway predominately processing color information from ROT to NCL, relayed by entopallium, and blue could trigger the strongest response.