bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Prognostic Value of the Results of <sup>123</sup>I-metaiodobenzylguanidine Myocardial Scintigraphy in the Examination of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Referred for Its Interventional Treatment
Authors: Varlamova Yu. V. , Lishmanov Yu. B. , Kisteneva I. V. 
Published: November 2019

Objective. To identify the scintigraphic predictors of the efficiency of interventional treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) by cardiac 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) radionuclide scanning.Material and methods. The investigation enrolled 35 patients with AF concurrent with hypertensive disease (HD): 17 persons with persistent AF (PAF) and 18 patients with long-standing PAF (LPAF). In addition, 10 patients with HD without arrhythmia signs were examined as a comparison group. All the patients with AF before radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and those with sinus rhythm underwent 123I-MIBG myocardial scintigraphy to assess the sympathetic innervation of the heart. The efficiency of RFA was evaluated after 12 months by 24-hour ECG monitoring.Results. The patients of both groups were divided into subgroups according to the presence of recurrent arrhythmia one year after interventional treatment. ROC analysis could determine the main scintigraphic predictors of the efficiency of RFA. The preoperative indicators, in which the subgroups with and without recurrent AF showed significant differences, were studied. In the patients with PAF, the delayed Heart/ Mediastinum (H/M) ratio cutoff was ≥1.55 (the area under the ROC curve was 0.929; 100% sensitivity and 57% specificity), and the threshold value of 123I-MIBG washout rate was ≤22.3% (the area under ROC curve was 0.957; 100% sensitivity and 43% specificity) may suggest that RFA is effective. In the patients with LPAF, the threshold values of early H/M ratio were ≥1.69 (the area under the ROC curve was 0.849; 100% sensitivity and 62% specificity) and those of delayed H/M ratio were ≥1.66 (the area under the ROC curve was 0.938; 94% sensitivity and 23% specificity) allow the prediction of a risk for postoperative recurrent AF.Conclusion. The findings suggest that 123I-MIBG scintigraphy can be used to predict a high risk for recurrent AF after RFA of the pathological pathways of a pulse in the myocardium.
Popliteal Skin Lesion due to Wear Disease in Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: van Veen Steven C. , Huizinga Maarten R. , van Raaij Jos J.A.M. 
Published: November 2019

Case:
An 87-year-old woman presented with a popliteal skin lesion due to polyethylene wear 13 years following a left total knee arthroplasty. Excisional biopsy through a posterior approach was performed. Histology showed inflammation with granulomas and birefringent foreign body particles in the skin. Cultures remained negative, and revision knee arthroplasty was performed.

Conclusions:
A popliteal skin lesion due to polyethylene wear disease in total knee arthroplasty has not previously been described. Patients with an atypical inflammation of the skin with an underlying joint implant should be referred to an orthopaedic surgeon, and dermal biopsies should be checked for birefringent material.

Level of Evidence:
Level V.
Team Approach: Contemporary Treatment of Congenital Scoliosis
Authors: Karaarslan Umut Can , Gurel Ipek Ege , Yucekul Altug , Demirkiran H. Gokhan , Samdani Amer , Yilgor Caglar , Alanay Ahmet 
Published: November 2019

» Congenital scoliosis is caused by developmental abnormalities such as failure of segmentation, failure of formation, or a combination of these conditions.» The multi-organ nature of congenital scoliosis necessitates a team approach in which spinal and intraspinal deformities are treated by orthopaedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and physical therapists, and associated anomalies are treated by pediatricians, pediatric surgeons, cardiologists, pulmonologists, and urologists.» At the initial time of diagnosis, observation is appropriate for most cases. Although early arthrodesis may be appropriate for select cases, delaying tactics that are nonoperative (bracing and casting) or operative (growing rod and growth guidance) may preserve (or even stimulate) spine and chest cage development while controlling the deformity.» Early hemivertebra resection and short-segment arthrodesis provide excellent outcomes.» Patients with a neurological deficit may require neurosurgical intervention, which may be performed either before a deformity correction surgical procedure or simultaneously with the procedure.
TAPHONOMY OF THE LOWER JURASSIC KONSERVAT-LAGERSTÄTTE AT YA HA TINDA (ALBERTA, CANADA) AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR EXCEPTIONAL FOSSIL PRESERVATION DURING OCEANIC ANOXIC EVENTS
Authors: MUSCENTE A.D. , MARTINDALE ROWAN C. , SCHIFFBAUER JAMES D. , CREIGHTON ABBY L. , BOGAN BROOKE A. 
Published: November 2019

ABSTRACTKonservat-Lagerstätten provide the most complete snapshots of ancient organisms and communities in the fossil record. In the Mesozoic, these deposits are rarely found in marine facies outside Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE) intervals, suggesting that OAEs set the stage for exceptional fossil preservation. Although anoxia does not guarantee survival of non-biomineralized tissues or articulated skeletons, other OAE phenomena may promote their conservation. Here, we test this hypothesis with a taphonomic analysis of the Konservat-Lagerstätte in the black shales and siltstones of the Jurassic Fernie Formation at Ya Ha Tinda (Alberta, Canada). This deposit contains crustacean cuticles, coleoid gladii with ink sacs and mantle tissues, and articulated skeletons of fish, crinoids, and ichthyosaurs. The fossils were preserved in the Pliensbachian and Toarcian (Early Jurassic) when euxinic conditions were common in the area, in part, due to the ∼183 Ma Toarcian OAE. Some of the fossils contain carbonaceous material, but the majority consists of apatite minerals, and phosphatic gladii demonstrate that some animals were preserved through secondary phosphate mineralization. Phosphatization generally occurs within phosphate-rich sediment, but oceanic anoxia causes sediment to release phosphorus and prevents animals from colonizing seafloor habitats. Accordingly, we propose that the animals were preserved during brief episodes of bottom water oxia and/or dysoxia, when the environment would have been most favorable to benthic communities and phosphate mineralization. In this setting, phosphatization may have been fueled by phosphate delivery from continental weathering in response to climatic warming, ocean upwelling of eutrophic water, and/or nutrient trapping by anoxia in the basin.
Industry Continues to Make Progress on Carbon Capture
Authors: Feder Judy 
Published: November 2019

Does the world really want carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS)? The answer is an unequivocal “Yes,” say the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the United Nations, and many oil and gas companies, among others. The consensus is that rapid scaleup of CCUS is essential for meeting climate and emissions targets while not crippling economic growth. As much as 450 million Mt of CO2 could be captured, used, and stored globally with a commercial incentive as low as $40/Mt, according to the IEA. Yet this potential remains largely untapped.
“It’s a chicken-and-egg problem,” said Dan Cole, vice president of commercial development and governmental relations at Denbury Resources. “To address the challenges, more projects need to be built, but more aren’t being built,” said•Cole. •
The reasons are many. The engineering sector is trying to scale up relatively immature technologies outside of niche projects and experiencing growing pains. Uncertainty around policy and return on investment (ROI), or lack thereof, is pushing back or halting large-scale projects. Public sentiment is pushing ever harder against carbon of any type in favor of renewable energy.
CCUS encompasses four interrelated areas, each of which face its own distinct technological, financial, and perceptual challenges.
Capture
Transportation
Storage
Use/Reuse
Fig. 1 illustrates the CCUS process.
Carbon Capture—the Least Mature Area
Approximately two-thirds of the total cost of CCUS is attributed to carbon capture. Additionally, capturing and compressing CO2 is estimated to increase the cost per watt-hour of energy produced by 21–91% for fossil fuel power plants, and applying the technology to existing plants would be more expensive, especially if they are far from a sequestration site.
Of all the components of the CCUS process, capture is considered the least technologically mature. Belief is widespread that optimizing a CO2 capture process would significantly increase the feasibility of CCUS because transport and storage technologies are more•mature.
Capturing CO2 is most effective at point sources such as large fossil fuel or biomass energy facilities, industries with major CO2 emissions, natural gas processing, synthetic fuel plants, and fossil fuel-based hydrogen production plants.
CO2 also can be captured directly from the air through direct air capture (DAC) rather than at a point source. Carbon dioxide can be separated out of air or flue gas with absorption, adsorption, or membrane gas separation technologies. Absorption, or carbon scrubbing, with amines is currently the dominant capture technology. Membrane and adsorption technologies are still in the developmental research and pilot plant•stages.
Randomized Controlled Trials for Comparison of Laparoscopic Versus Conventional Open Catheter Placement in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Sun Mei-lan , Wang Bo , Zhang Piao , zhang yong 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Aim The application of laparoscopic catheterization technology in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients has recently increased. However, the advantages and disadvantages of laparoscopic versus conventional open catheterization are still controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis is to assess complications of catheterization in PD patients and to provide a reference for the clinical choice of PD catheter placement technique. Methods We searched numerous databases, including Embase, PubMed, CNKI and the Cochrane Library, for published randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Results Eight relevant studies (n=646) were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled results showed a lower incidence of catheter migration (P: 0.03, OR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.90) and malfunction (P: 0.008, OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.79) but a higher incidence of bleeding (P: 0.02, OR: 3.25, 95% CI: 1.18 to 8.97) with a laparoscopic approach than with a conventional approach. There was no significant difference in the incidence of obstruction (P: 0.24, OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.05 to 2.10), hernia (P: 0.20, OR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.09 to 1.68), leakage (P: 0.23, OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.38 to 1.26), mechanical dysfunction (P: 0.90, OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.48 to 1.91), malfunction (P: 0.008, OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.79), perforation (P: 0.97, OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.06 to 15.42), peritonitis (P: 0.13, OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.42 to 1.12) or tunnel or exit-site infections (P: 0.49, OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.71 to 2.02). Conclusion Laparoscopic catheterization and conventional open catheter placement in PD patients have unique advantages, but laparoscopic catheterization may be superior to conventional open catheter placement. However, this conclusion needs to be confirmed with further large-sample-size, multi-centre, high-quality RCTs.
A neutralizing monoclonal antibody-based competitive ELISA for classical swine fever C-strain post–vaccination monitoring
Authors: Wang Lihua , Mi Shijiang , Madera Rachel , Ganges Llilianne , Borca Manuel V. , Ren Jingqiang , Cunningham Chase , Cino-Ozuna Ada G. , Li Hongwei , Tu Changchun , Gong Wenjie , Shi Jishu 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background: Virus neutralization test (VNT) is widely used for serological survey of classical swine fever (CSF) and efficacy evaluation of CSF vaccines. However, VNT is a time consuming procedure that requires cell culture and live virus manipulation. C-strain CSF vaccine is the most frequently used vaccine for CSF control and prevention. In this study, we presented a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) based competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) with the emphasis on the replacement of VNT for C-strain post–vaccination monitoring. Results: One monoclonal antibody (6B211) which has potent neutralizing activity against C-strain was generated. A novel cELISA was established and optimized based on the strategy that 6B211 can compete with C-strain induced neutralizing antibodies in pig serum to bind capture antigen C-strain E2. By testing C-strain VNT negative pig sera (n=445) and C-strain VNT positive pig sera (n=70), the 6B211 based cELSIA showed 100% sensitivity (95% confidence interval: 94.87 to 100%) and 100% specificity (95% confidence interval: 100 to 100%). The C-strain antibody can be detected in pigs as early as 7 days post vaccination with the cELISA. By testing pig sera (n=139) in parallel, the cELISA showed excellent agreement (Kappa=0.957) with VNT. The inhibition rate of serum samples in the cELISA is highly correlated with their titers in VNT (r 2 =0.903, p<0.001). In addition, intra- and inter-assays of the cELISA exhibited acceptable repeatability with low coefficient of variations (CVs). Conclusions: This novel cELISA demonstrated excellent agreement and high level correlation with VNT. It is a reliable tool for sero-monitoring of C-strain vaccination campaign because it is a rapid, simple, safe and cost effective assay that can be used to monitor vaccination-induced immune response at the population level.
A novel virtual barcode strategy for accurate panel-wide variants calling in circulating tumor DNA
Authors: wu leilei , Deng Qinfang , Xu Ze , Zhou Songwen , Author) Chao Li(New Corresponding , Li yixue 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background Hybrid capture-based next generation sequencing of DNA has been widely applied in the detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Various methods have been proposed for ctDNA detection, while still a great challenging present for these low allelic fraction (AF) variants. In addition, no panel-wide calling algorithm is available, which hider the fully usage of ctDNA based ‘liquid biopsy’. Thus, we developed VBCALAVD in silico to overcome these limits. Results Based on understanding of ctDNA fragmentation nature, a novel platform-independent virtual barcode strategy was established to eliminate random sequencing errors by clustering sequencing reads into virtual family. Polishing stereotypical background artifacts through constructing AF distributions. And additional three robust fine-tuning filters were obtained to eliminate stochastic mutant-family-level noises. The performance of our algorithm was validated using cell-free DNA reference standard samples (cfDNA RSDs) with AFs ranging from 0.1% to 5%. For the RSDs with AFs of 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.5%, 1% and 5%, the mean F1 scores were 0.27 (0~0.56), 0.77, 0.92, 0.926 (0.86~1.0) and 0.89 (0.75~1.0), respectively, which indicates that the proposed approach significantly outperforms the published algorithms. Also, no false positives were detected among 14 normal healthy cfDNA samples. Meanwhile, characteristics of mutant-family-level noise and quantity determinant of its divergence between samples with high and low templates were clearly depicted. Conclusions Due to its good performance in the detection of low-AF mutations, our algorithm will greatly facilitate the noninvasive panel-wide detection of mutations in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in clinical settings. The whole pipeline is available at https://github.com/zhaodalv/VBCALAVD.
Comparative evaluation of nested PCR for diagnosis of human brucellosis
Authors: rahbarnia leila , Farajnia Safar , Naghili Behrooz , Saeedi Nazli 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Objectives: Brucellosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease with high morbidity in the absence of treatment. The early diagnosis of brucellosis is efficient to prevent chronic infections. The aim of this study is evaluation of nested PCR efficiency in comparison with conventional methods for diagnosis of human brucellosis. A total of 120 patients with brucellosis symptoms were included in this study. Serological and microbiological tests and nested PCR were used for detection of Brucella bacteria. Results: Based on serological tests, 60.83% (73/120) of individuals were positive for brucellosis which only 8.33% of cases were confirmed by blood culture. Among them, 55% of cases were positive in serum agglutination test (SAT≥1:160) and Coombs (C-SAT≥1:160) tests. Furthermore, 7 negative SAT cases were positive in C-SAT as evidence for chronic brucellosis. Also, 68.18% and 56.06% of SAT positive samples were positive in blood nested PCR and serum nested PCR respectively. The sensitivity of blood nested PCR was more than serum nested PCR, SAT≥1:160 and blood culture (P<0.001). The specificity of the blood and serum nested PCR was 100% compared with blood culture and SAT≥ 1:160. Our findings highlight high performance of nested PCR for diagnosis of both acute and chronic brucellosis.
The role of peer influence on oral health knowledge and behaviors among adolescents
Authors: Khoshnevisan Mohammad Hossein , Shariatpanahi Seyed Peyman , Roudsari Maryam Sadeghipour , Namdari Mahshid , Malek-Mohamadi Mahsa , Foroughmand Mohammad Hadi 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background : Although many researchers, in different social sciences fields, are being attracted to the new potential promotional phenomenon, the influence of peer connections, the literature in dental public health is very poor. This article investigates the role of peer influence on individuals’ oral health knowledge and behavior among adolescents. Methods: The purpose of the study was to explore the correlation of secondary school students’ oral health behaviors and knowledge within friendship groups. A valid and reliable questionnaire was developed. A total of 421 students (228 boys and 193 girls) aged between 12-13 years old participated in the study. Ordinal regression analysis was used to identify the correlation between an individual’s oral health knowledge and behaviors and his/her friends. Results: The results demonstrated a strong relationship between students’ oral health behaviors and their peer connections within their friendship groups at school. Specifically, tooth brushing frequency of a student had a strong correlation with similar behavior of his/her friends. In addition, investigation of the role of the second level connections (friends of one’s friend with no direct connection) showed a significant correlation in brushing behavior. However, the results revealed no strong correlation of oral health knowledge among friends within their social network. Conclusion: This paper highlighted the importance of the role of peer influence on oral health behavior. Understanding the relation between oral health behavior and social network would help policy makers for more cost effective oral health promotion programs among adolescents.
Correlation analysis of periodontal tissue dimensions in esthetic zone using a non-invasive digital method
Authors: Kim Yun-Jeong , Park Ji-Man , Cho Hyun-Jae , Ku Young 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background. Recently, direct intraoral scanning and superimposing methods have been applied to measure the dimensions of periodontal tissues. The aim of this study was to analyze various correlations between labial gingival thickness and underlying alveolar bone thickness as well as clinical parameters among the three tooth types (central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines) using the digital method. Methods. In 20 periodontally healthy subjects, cone-beam computed tomography (CB-CT) images and intraoral scanned files were obtained. Measurements of labial alveolar bone and gingival thickness at the central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines were performed at 0–5 mm points from the alveolar crest on the superimposed images. Clinical parameters including the crown width/crown length ratio (CW/CL), gingival width (GW), gingival scallop (SC), and transparency of the periodontal probe through the gingival sulcus (TRAN) were examined. Results. Gingival thickness at the alveolar crest level was positively correlated with the thickness of the alveolar bone plate (p<0.05). The central incisors revealed a strong correlation between A1 and A2 (labial alveolar bone thickness at 1 and 2 mm, respectively, inferior to the alveolar crest) with the thickness of the gingiva at the G0, whereas G0 and labial bone thickness at every level were positively correlated at the lateral incisors and canines. The correlation analyses revealed no significant correlation between the clinical parameters and the hard and soft tissue thicknesses. Conclusions. The gingival thickness at the alveolar crest level revealed a positive correlation with labial alveolar bone thickness, although this correlation at identical depth levels was not significant. The measurement of gingival thickness at, or under the alveolar crest level, was not associated with the clinical parameters of the gingival features, such as the crown form and the gingival scallop, or the keratinized gingival width. Therefore, it is recommended that, in future studies, accurate measuring methods of the supracrestal gingival area should be developed, and the predictive potential of clinical parameters on tissue thickness should be verified.
'If you can’t make it, you're not tough enough to do medicine’: A qualitative study of Sydney-based medical students’ experiences of bullying and harassment in clinical settings
Authors: Colenbrander Laura , Causer Louise , Haire Bridget 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background : Media exposés and academic literature reveal high rates of bullying and harassment of medical students, most commonly by consultant physicians and/or surgeons. Recent reports reveal the medical profession to be characterised by hierarchy, with verbal abuse a ‘rite of passage’, as well as sexist and racist behaviours. Methods : Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with ten current or recently graduated medical students from Sydney-based medical schools. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analysed. Results : Hierarchy, and a culture of self-sacrifice, resilience and deference, were identified as problematic elements of the medical profession. In the minds of participants, these factors created barriers to reporting mistreatment, as participants felt reporting led to being labelled a ‘troublemaker’, affecting career progression. Additionally, participants stated that avenues of recourse were unclear and did not guarantee confidentiality or desired outcomes. Conclusions : Mistreatment is continuing in clinical teaching and has negative consequences on medical students’ mental health and learning. Structural change is needed to combat institutionalised mistreatment to ensure the wellbeing of future doctors and high quality patient care.