bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Speed During Stripping in Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty Tissue Preparation
Authors: Borroni Davide , Gadhvi Kunal , Wojcik Gabriela , Pennisi Flavia , Vallabh Neeru A. , Galeone Alessandra , Ruzza Alessandro , Arbabi Esmaeil , Menassa Nardine , Kaye Stephen , Ponzin Diego , Ferrari Stefano , Romano Vito 
Published: April 2020

Purpose:
To evaluate whether the speed of stripping a Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty graft influences the graft scroll width.

Methods:
Human corneas suitable for research were selected for the study. Pairs of corneas were randomly divided into 2 groups: 1 cornea was stripped with a slow speed (group 1) and the contralateral with a fast speed (group 2). Slow speed was defined as the total time greater than 150 seconds or speed <0.057 mm/s. Fast peeling was defined as less than 75 seconds or speed >0.11 mm/s. The grafts acquired were evaluated by microscopy for the graft scroll width and endothelial cell density change pre- and post-preparation.

Results:
Twenty corneas of 10 donors were included in the analysis. The mean donor age was 68.6 ± 7.58 years. The mean total time of the tissue preparation in group 1 was 282.7 ± 28 seconds and in group 2 was 126 ± 50 seconds (P-value = 0.00000047). The mean speed of stripping in group 1 was 0.045 ± 0.006 mm/s and in group 2 was 0.266 ± 0.093 mm/s (P-value = 0.000027). The graft width in group 1 was 6.4 ± 0.92 mm and in group 2 was 2.87 ± 0.32 mm (P-value = 0.00000014). The mean endothelial cell loss in group 1 was 389 ± 149 cells/mm2 and in group 2 was 186 ± 63.44 cells/mm2 (P-value = 0.00134).

Conclusion:
We found a correlation between the speed of stripping, scroll width, and endothelial cell loss. Slow-peeled Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty grafts result in a wider scroll width but were associated with a greater reduction in endothelial cell density.
Primary Localized Conjunctival Amyloidosis Presenting Corneal Whorl-like Opacity Patterns
Authors: Sharma Vijay K. , Agarwal Manisha , Tyagi Aman , Sati Alok 
Published: April 2020

Purpose:
To report an unusual case of corneal whorl-like opacity patterns in a patient of primary localized conjunctival amyloidosis.

Methods:
Case report and review of literature.

Results:
A 35-year old man with a case of primary localized conjunctival amyloidosis presented with corneal whorl-like opacity patterns and underwent conjunctival and limbal biopsies. Histopathological evaluation showed dense deposition of amorphous, hyaline, eosinophilic material with week periodic acid-Schiff positivity and congophilia on congo red stain. There was birefringence under a polarized microscope. These findings were suggestive of amyloid deposition. tumor-associated calcium signal transducer-2 mutation was negative ruling out gelatinous drop-like corneal dystrophy. Systemic evaluation was negative for primary systemic amyloidosis. A diagnosis of primary localized conjunctival amyloidosis with corneal whorl-like opacity patterns was confirmed.

Conclusions:
This is an unusual case report of primary localized conjunctival amyloidosis, presenting as corneal whorl-like opacity patterns. Primary localized conjunctival amyloidosis usually involves the fornix and then spreads to lids causing lid thickening, blepharoptosis, subconjunctival, or orbital mass. In our case, it probably started around limbus, involving palisades of Vogt and caused corneal whorl-like opacity patterns which were the presenting feature.
The Effect of Commonly Performed Exercises on the Levator Hiatus Area and the Length and Strength of Pelvic Floor Muscles in Postpartum Women
Authors: Siff Lauren N. , Hill Audra J. , Walters Samantha J. , Walters Ginny , Walters Mark D. 
Published: April 2020

(Abstracted from Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg 2020;26:61–66)
Previous research has demonstrated that postpartum pelvic floor exercises can lead to an increase in strength of the pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) and a reduction in pelvic floor disorders. However, as many as 23% of patients perform these exercises incorrectly, which may be due to barriers from patient awareness, education, disagreement about techniques, and compliance.
Ethical Problems in Decision Making in the Neonatal ICU
Authors: Lantos John D. 
Published: April 2020

(Abstracted from N Engl J Med 2018;379(19):1851–1860)
In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), disagreements about whether life-sustaining treatment can ethically be withheld or withdrawn are not uncommon. At times, doctors recommend treatments and parents refuse, and sometimes, parents request continued treatment that doctors think inappropriate.
Association of Umbilical Cord Milking vs Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping With Death or Severe Intraventricular Hemorrhage Among Preterm Infants
Authors: Katheria Anup , Reister Frank , Essers Jochen , Mendler Marc , Hummler Helmut , Subramaniam Akila , Carlo Waldemar , Tita Alan , Truong Giang , Davis-Nelson Shareece , Schmölzer Georg , Chari Radha , Kaempf Joseph , Tomlinson Mark , Yanowitz Toby , Beck Stacy , Simhan Hyagriv , Dempsey Eugene , O'Donoghue Keelin , Bhat Shazia , Hoffman Matthew , Faksh Arij , Arnell Kathy , Rich Wade , Finer Neil , Vaucher Yvonne , Khanna Paritosh , Meyers Mariana , Varner Michael , Allman Phillip , Szychowski Jeff , Cutter Gary 
Published: April 2020

(Abstracted from JAMA 2019;322(19):1877–1886)
Delayed umbilical cord clamping is the current standard of care for newborn management at delivery. The extended time between delivery and umbilical cord clamping allows for a higher quantity of placental blood to reach the newborn.
Low MicroRNA-126 Levels in Right Ventricular Endomyocardial Biopsies Coincide With Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy in Heart Transplant Patients
Authors: Heggermont Ward A. , Delrue Leen , Dierickx Karen , Dierckx Riet , Verstreken Sofie , Goethals Marc , Bartunek Jozef , Vanderheyden Marc 
Published: April 2020

Background.
Endothelium-enriched microRNAs (miRs) are involved in the development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). Recently, serum-derived miR-126-3p and -5p, known endothelial microRNAs with a crucial function in angiogenesis and re-endothelialization, provided additional predictive power for cardiac allograft vasculopathy in addition to clinical predictors. However, their myocardial expression in and relationship with CAV are still unknown. Our study aim was to investigate the expression of endomyocardial microRNA-126-3p and microRNA-126-5p levels in heart transplant recipients and their relationship with allograft vasculopathy.

Methods.
We studied 39 heart transplant recipients, 21 with proven allograft vasculopathy (CAV+) and 18 without allograft vasculopathy (CAV−) with serial coronary angiograms. Additionally, 8 patients with end-stage native coronary artery disease (CAD) were added to the study to investigate disease specificity of the microRNA signature. The mRNA levels of miR-126-3p and miR-126-5p were determined by qRT-PCR in the right ventricular endomyocardial biopsies obtained at baseline and during routine follow-up.

Results.
MiR-126-3p levels were significantly lower in the CAV+ group compared to the CAV− group at follow-up, while miR-126-5p levels were unaltered. This was in stark contrast to native CAD patients in whom miR-126-3p and -5p levels were significantly higher. qPCR levels of miR-126 targets are differentially regulated in CAV versus ischemic cardiomyopathy and are influenced by the administration of immunosuppressive agents in endothelial cells.

Conclusions.
Our data provide evidence for a distinct microRNA signature in heart transplantation patients with allograft vasculopathy. In contrast to CAD patients, lower miR-126-3p levels coincide with the development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy. Further studies in a larger patient population are warranted to determine if the serial measurement of myocardial microRNA-126 products could help in risk assessment and early detection of CAV.
Vapor H2O2 sterilization as a decontamination method for the reuse of N95 respirators in the COVID-19 emergency
Authors: Oral Ebru , Wannomae Keith K. , Connolly Rachel , Gardecki Joseph , Leung Hui Min , Muratoglu Orhun , Griffiths Anthony , Honko Anna N. , Avena Laura E. , McKay Lindsay G. A. , Flynn Nick , Storm Nadia , Downs Sierra N. , Jones Ralph , Emmal Brandon 
Published: April 2020

There are a variety of methods routinely used in the sterilization of medical devices using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) including vaporization, plasma generation and ionization. Many of these systems are used for sterilization and are validated for bioburden reduction using bacterial spores.Here, we explored the benefits of using vaporized H2O2 (VHP) treatment of N95 respirators for emergency decontamination and reuse to alleviate PPE shortages for healthcare workers in the COVID-19 emergency. The factors that are considered for the effective reuse of these respirators are the fit, the filter efficiency and the decontamination/disinfection level for SARS-CoV-2, which is the causative virus for COVID-19 and other organisms of concern in the hospital environment such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or Clostridium difficile. WE showed that the method did not affect fit or filter efficiency at least for one cycle and resulted in a >6 log reduction in bacterial spores and >3.8 log reduction in the infectious SARS-CoV2 load on N95 respirators.
Cardiovascular Diseases Burden in COVID-19: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Hessami Amirhossein , Shamshirian Amir , Heydari Keyvan , Pourali Fatemeh , Alizadeh-Navaei Reza , Moosazadeh Mahmood , Abrotan Saeed , Shojaei Layla , Sedighi Sogol , Shamshirian Danial , Rezaei Nima 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundHigh rate of cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been reported among patients with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Meanwhile there were controversies among different studies about CVD burden in COVID-19 patients. Hence, we aimed to study CVD burden among COVID-19 patients, using a systematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsWe have systematically searched databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science as well as medRxiv pre-print database. Hand searched was also conducted in journal websites and Google Scholar. Meta-analyses were carried out for Odds Ratio (OR) of mortality and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission for different CVDs. We have also performed a descriptive meta-analysis on different CVDs.ResultsFifty-six studies entered into meta-analysis for ICU admission and mortality outcome and 198 papers for descriptive outcomes, including 159,698 COVID-19 patients. Results of meta-analysis indicated that acute cardiac injury, (OR: 13.29, 95% CI 7.35-24.03), hypertension (OR: 2.60, 95% CI 2.11-3.19), heart Failure (OR: 6.72, 95% CI 3.34-13.52), arrhythmia (OR: 2.75, 95% CI 1.43-5.25), coronary artery disease (OR: 3.78, 95% CI 2.42-5.90), and cardiovascular disease (OR: 2.61, 95% CI 1.89-3.62) were significantly associated with mortality. Arrhythmia (OR: 7.03, 95% CI 2.79-17.69), acute cardiac injury (OR: 15.58, 95% CI 5.15-47.12), coronary heart disease (OR: 2.61, 95% CI 1.09-6.26), cardiovascular disease (OR: 3.11, 95% CI 1.59-6.09), and hypertension (OR: 1.95, 95% CI 1.41-2.68) were also significantly associated with ICU admission in COVID-19 patients.ConclusionFindings of this study revealed a high burden of CVDs among COVID-19 patients, which was significantly associated with mortality and ICU admission. Proper management of CVD patients with COVID-19 and monitoring COVID-19 patients for acute cardiac conditions is highly recommended to prevent mortality and critical situations.Graphical abstract
How does external lateral stabilization constrain normal gait, apart from improving medio-lateral gait stability?
Authors: Mahaki Mohammadreza , IJmker Trienke , Houdijk Han , Bruijn Sjoerd Matthijs 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe effect of external lateral stabilization on medio-lateral gait stability has been investigated previously. However, existing lateral stabilization devices not only constrains lateral motions, but also transverse and frontal pelvis rotations. This study aimed to investigate the effect of external lateral stabilization with and without constrained transverse pelvis rotation on mechanical and metabolic gait features.MethodsWe undertook 2 experiments with eleven and ten young adult subjects, respectively. Experiment 2 supplemented experiment 1, as it considered several potential confounding factors in the design and set-up of experiment 1. Kinematic, kinetic, and breath-by-breath oxygen consumption data were recorded during 3 walking conditions (normal walking (Normal), lateral stabilization with (Free) and without transverse pelvis rotation (Restricted)) and at 3 speeds (0.83, 1.25, and 1.66 m/s) for each condition.ResultsExternal lateral stabilization significantly reduced the amplitudes of the transverse and frontal pelvis rotations, medio-lateral pelvis displacement, transverse thorax rotation, arm swing, and step width. The amplitudes of free vertical moment, anterior-posterior and vertical pelvis displacements, step length, and energy cost were not significantly influenced by external lateral stabilization. The removal of transverse pelvis rotation restriction by our experimental set-up resulted in significantly higher transverse pelvis rotation, although it remained significantly less than Normal condition. In concert, concomitant gait features such as transverse thorax rotation and arm swing were not significantly influenced by our new set-up.ConclusionExisting lateral stabilization set-ups not only constrain medio-lateral motions (i.e. medio-lateral pelvis displacement), but also constrains other movements such as transverse and frontal pelvis rotations, which leads to several other gait changes such as reduced transverse thorax rotation, and arm swing. Our new setup allowed for more transverse pelvis rotation, however, this did not result in more normal pelvis rotation, arm swing, etc. Hence, to provide medio-lateral support without constraining other gait variables, more elaborate set-ups are needed. Unless such a set-up is realized the observed side effects need to be taken into account when interpreting the effects of lateral stabilization as reported in previous studies.
Cryo-electron tomography of cardiac myofibrils reveals a contraction-induced lattice twist in the Z-discs
Authors: Oda Toshiyuki , Yanagisawa Haruaki 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe Z-disc forms a boundary between sarcomeres, which constitute structural and functional units of striated muscle tissue. Actin filaments from adjacent sarcomeres are cross-bridged by α-actinin in the Z-disc, allowing transmission of tension across the myofibril. Despite decades of studies, the 3D structure of Z-disc has been elusive due to the limited resolution of conventional electron microscopy. Here, we observed porcine cardiac myofibrils using cryo-electron tomography and reconstructed the 3D structures of the actinactinin cross-bridging complexes within the Z-discs in relaxed and activated states. We found that the α-actinin showed a contraction-induced swing motion along with a global twist in the actin lattice. Our observation suggests that the elasticity and the integrity of the Z-disc during the muscle contraction cycle are maintained by the structural flexibility within the actin-actinin complex.
Humanized Single Domain Antibodies Neutralize SARS-CoV-2 by Targeting Spike Receptor Binding Domain
Authors: Chi Xiaojing , Liu Xiuying , Wang Conghui , Zhang Xinhui , Ren Lili , Jin Qi , Wang Jianwei , Yang Wei 
Published: April 2020

AbstractSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread across more than 200 countries and regions, leading to an unprecedented medical burden and live lost. SARS-CoV-2 specific antivirals or prophylactic vaccines are not available. Neutralizing antibodies provide efficient blockade for viral infection and are a promising category of biological therapies. Using SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD as a bait, we have discovered a panel of humanized single domain antibodies (sdAbs). These sdAbs revealed binding kinetics with the equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) of 0.7~33 nM. The monomeric sdAbs showed half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.003~0.3 μg/mL in pseudotyped particle neutralization assay, and 0.23~0.50 μg/mL in authentic SARS-CoV-2 neutralization assay. Competitive ligand-binding data suggested that the sdAbs either completely blocked or significantly inhibited the association between SARS-CoV-2 RBD and viral entry receptor ACE2. Finally, we showed that fusion of the human IgG1 Fc to sdAbs improved their neutralization activity by tens of times. These results reveal the novel SARS-CoV-2 RBD targeting sdAbs and pave a road for antibody drug development.
Further analysis of the impact of distancing upon the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Bernstein Daniel J. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThis paper questions various claims from the paper “Social distancing strategies for curbing the COVID-19 epidemic” by Kissler, Tedijanto, Lipsitch, and Grad: most importantly, the claim that China’s “intense” distancing measures achieved only a 60% reduction in R0.
Investigating the origin and consequences of endogenous default options in repeated economic choices
Authors: Couto Joaquina , van Maanen Leendert , Lebreton Maël 
Published: April 2020

AbstractClassical value-based decision theories state that economic choices are solely based on the value of available options. Experimental evidence suggests, however, that individuals’ choices are biased towards default options, prompted by the framing of decisions. Although the effects of default options created by exogenous framing – such as how choice options are displayed – are well-documented, little is known about the potential effects and properties of endogenous framing, that is, originating from an individual’s internal state. In this study, we investigated the existence and properties of endogenous default options in a task involving choices between risky lotteries. By manipulating and examining the effects of three experimental features – time pressure, time spent on task and relative choice proportion towards a specific option –, we reveal and dissociate two features of endogenous default options which bias individuals’ choices: a natural tendency to prefer certain types of options (natural default), and the tendency to implicitly learn a default option from past choices (learned default). Additional analyses suggest that while the natural default may bias the standard choice process towards an option category, the learned default effects may be attributable to a second independent choice process. Overall, these investigations provide a first experimental evidence of how individuals build and apply diverse endogenous default options in economic decision-making and how this biases their choices.
COVID-19 is an emergent disease of aging
Authors: Santesmasses Didac , Castro José Pedro , Zenin Aleksandr A. , Shindyapina Anastasia V. , Gerashchenko Maxim V. , Zhang Bohan , Kerepesi Csaba , Yim Sun Hee , Fedichev Peter O. , Gladyshev Vadim N. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractCOVID-19 is an ongoing pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that poses one of the greatest challenges to public health in recent years. SARS-CoV-2 is highly contagious and often leads to severe viral pneumonia with respiratory failure and death in the elderly and subjects with pre-existing conditions, but the reason for this age dependence is unclear. Here, we found that the case fatality rate for COVID-19 grows exponentially with age in Italy, Spain, South Korea, and China, with the doubling time approaching that of all-cause human mortality. In addition, men and those with multiple age-related diseases are characterized by increased mortality. Moreover, similar mortality patterns were found for all-cause pneumonia. We further report that the gene expression of ACE2, the SARS-CoV-2 receptor, grows in the lung with age, except for subjects on a ventilator. Together, our findings establish COVID-19 as an emergent disease of aging, and age and age-related diseases as its major risk factors. In turn, this suggests that COVID-19, and deadly respiratory diseases in general, may be targeted, in addition to therapeutic approaches that affect specific pathways, by approaches that target the aging process.
Revisiting the interaction of heme with hemopexin: Recommendations for the responsible use of an emerging drug
Authors: Detzel Milena S. , Syllwasschy Benjamin F. , Steinbock Francèl , Ramoji Anuradha , Hopp Marie-Thérèse , George Ajay A. Paul , Neugebauer Ute , Imhof Diana 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn hemolytic disorders, erythrocyte lysis results in massive release of hemoglobin and, subsequently, toxic heme. Hemopexin is the major protective factor against heme toxicity in human blood and currently considered for therapeutic use. It has been widely accepted that hemopexin binds heme with extraordinarily high affinity in a 1:1 ratio. Here we show that hemopexin binds heme with lower affinity than previously assumed and that the interaction ratio tends to 2:1 (heme:hemopexin) or above. The heme-binding sites of hemopexin were characterized using hemopexin-derived peptide models and competitive displacement assays. In addition,in silicomolecular modelling with a newly created homology model of human hemopexin allowed us to propose a recruiting mechanism by which heme consecutively binds to several histidine residues and is finally funnelled into the high-affinity binding pocket. Our findings have direct implications for the biomedical application of hemopexin and its potential administration in hemolytic disorders.
Space vector modulation with reduced common mode voltage for six-phase drives
Authors: Zandzadeh Mohammad Jafar , Saniei Mohsen , Kianinezhad Reza 
Published: April 2020

Purpose
This paper aims to present a modified space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) technique for six-phase induction motor drive based on common-mode voltage (CMV) and current losses which are two important issues affecting drive system behavior and quality.

Design/methodology/approach
It is shown that the presence of z-component currents and the presence of CMV in six-phase drive system are two major limiting factors in space vector selection. The behavior of several space vector selections in a two-level inverter considering minimum CMV and z-components is investigated. Then, the space vectors in a three-level inverter is analyzed and tried to explore an SVM technique with better behavior.

Findings
The analyses show that all the problems cannot be solved in a six-phase drive system with two-level inverter despite having 64 space vectors; this study tried to overcome the limitations by exploring space vectors in a three-level inverter.

Originality/value
The proposed pulse width modulation (PWM) strategy leads to minimum current distortion and undesired current components with zero CMV and modest torque ripple.