bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
In vivoanalysis of the origin and characteristics of gaseous microemboli during catheter-mediated irreversible electroporation
Authors: Groen Marijn H A , van Es René , van Klarenbosch Bas R , Stehouwer Marco , Loh Peter , Doevendans Pieter A , Wittkampf Fred H , Neven Kars 
Published: July 2020

AbstractAims Irreversible electroporation (IRE) ablation is a non-thermal ablation method based on the application of direct current between a multi-electrode catheter and skin electrode. The delivery of current through blood leads to electrolysis. Some studies suggest that gaseous (micro)emboli might be associated with myocardial damage and/or (a)symptomatic cerebral ischaemic events. The aim of this study was to compare the amount of gas generated during IRE ablation and during radiofrequency (RF) ablation.Methods and resultsIn six 60–75 kg pigs, an extracorporeal femoral shunt was outfitted with a bubble-counter to detect the size and total volume of gas bubbles. Anodal and cathodal 200 J IRE applications were delivered in the left atrium (LA) using a 14-electrode circular catheter. The 30 and 60 s 40 W RF point-by-point ablations were performed. Using transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE), gas formation was visualized. Average gas volumes were 0.6 ± 0.6 and 56.9 ± 19.1 μL (P &lt; 0.01) for each anodal and cathodal IRE application, respectively. Also, qualitative TOE imaging showed significantly less LA bubble contrast with anodal than with cathodal applications. Radiofrequency ablations produced 1.7 ± 2.9 and 6.7 ± 7.4 μL of gas, for 30 and 60 s ablation time, respectively.Conclusion Anodal IRE applications result in significantly less gas formation than both cathodal IRE applications and RF applications. This finding is supported by TOE observations.
The Effects of Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine on ACE2-Related Coronavirus Pathology and the Cardiovascular System: An Evidence-Based Review
Authors: Chen Li , Chen Haiyan , Dong Shan , Huang Wei , Chen Li , Wei Yuan , Shi Liping , Li Jinying , Zhu Fengfeng , Zhu Zhu , Wang Yiyang , Lv Xiuxiu , Yu Xiaohui , Li Hongmei , Wei Wei , Zhang Keke , Zhu Lihong , Qu Chen , Hong Jian , Hu Chaofeng , Dong Jun , Qi Renbin , Lu Daxiang , Wang Huadong , Peng Shuang , Hao Guang 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
The ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses a serious threat to global public health and there is currently no effective antiviral therapy. It has been suggested that chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), which were primarily employed as prophylaxis and treatment for malaria, could be used to treat COVID-19. CQ and HCQ may be potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells, which are mediated via the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and may also inhibit subsequent intracellular processes which lead to COVID-19, including damage to the cardiovascular (CV) system. However, paradoxically, CQ and HCQ have also been reported to cause damage to the CV system. In this review, we provide a critical examination of the published evidence. CQ and HCQ could potentially be useful drugs in the treatment of COVID-19 and other ACE2 involved virus infections, but the antiviral effects of CQ and HCQ need to be tested in more well-designed clinical randomized studies and their actions on the CV system need to be further elucidated. However, even if it were to turn out that CQ and HCQ are not useful drugs in practice, further studies of their mechanism of action could be helpful in improving our understanding of COVID-19 pathology.
Mid-term durability of polytetrafluoroethylene patches in unicuspid aortic valve repair
Authors: Karliova Irem , Ehrlich Tristan , Matsushima Shunsuke , Ewen Sebastian , Schäfers Hans-Joachim 
Published: July 2020

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Unicuspid aortic valve (UAV) morphology is a cause for aortic valve dysfunction in childhood or adolescence. Repair requires the use of patch material, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) has been proposed for this purpose because of lack of calcification. We reviewed our mid-term experience with PTFE for the repair of UAV to analyse the durability of this technique.

METHODS
Out of 21 patients with an UAV undergoing aortic valve repair for severe aortic regurgitation between 2014 and 2016, 11 patients (52%) were treated using PTFE patch material. Aortic regurgitation was present in all patients, the primary indication for surgery was regurgitation in 8, stenosis in 2 and aneurysm in 1. Symmetric bicuspidization of the UAV was performed in all. One patient required additional root remodelling for root dilatation, and another 3 tubular ascending aortic replacement.

RESULTS
No patient died in hospital or during follow-up. Seven patients (63.6%) required reoperation for progressive AR. Freedom from reoperation was 58% at 1 and 35% at 5 years postoperatively. At reoperation the PTFE patches were found dehisced from aortic wall and/or native cusp tissue. In 3 patients re-repair was performed; a stable result was achieved in 1. Two patients underwent valve replacement 3 months and 1 year postoperatively. The other 4 patients underwent valve replacement.

CONCLUSIONS
The repair of UAVs using PTFE patch is associated with poor durability, a more durable patch with better healing characteristics material is needed.
Mid-term survival of patients with chronic kidney disease after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Lu Yueh-An , Chen Shao-Wei , Lee Cheng-Chia , Wu Victor Chien-Chia , Fan Pei-Chun , Kuo George , Chen Jia-Jin , Chu Po-Hsien , Chang Shang-Hung , Chang Chih-Hsiang 
Published: July 2020

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) impairs the elimination of fluids, electrolytes and metabolic wastes, which can affect the outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of CKD on in-hospital mortality and mid-term survival of adult patients who received ECMO treatment.

METHODS
Patients who received first-time ECMO treatment between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2013 were included. Those with CKD were identified and matched to patients without CKD using a 1:2 ratio and were followed for 3 years. The study outcomes included in-hospital outcomes and the 3-year mortality rate. A subgroup analysis was conducted by comparing the dialytic patients with the non-dialytic CKD patients.

RESULTS
The study comprised 1008 CKD patients and 2016 non-CKD patients after propensity score matching. The CKD patients had higher in-hospital mortality rates [69.5% vs 62.2%; adjusted odds ratio 1.41; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15–1.72] than the non-CKD patients. The 3-year mortality rate was 80.4% in the CKD group and 68% in the non-CKD group (adjusted hazard ratio 1.17; 95% CI 1.06–1.28). The subgroup analysis showed that the 3-year mortality rates were 84.5% and 78.4% in the dialytic and non-dialytic patients, respectively. No difference in the 3-year mortality rate was noted between the 2 CKD subgroups (P = 0.111).

CONCLUSIONS
CKD was associated with increased risks of in-hospital and mid-term mortalities in patients who received ECMO treatment. Furthermore, no difference in survival was observed between the patients with end-stage renal disease and non-dialytic CKD patients.
The Short and Long(er) of It: The Effect of Hard Times on Regional Institutionalization
Authors: Haftel Yoram Z , Wajner Daniel F , Eran Dan 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
What are the implications of hard economic times for regional economic cooperation? Existing research is sharply divided on the answer to this question. Some studies suggest that economic crises encourage governments to strengthen their regional institutions, but others indicate that they lead to decreasing investment in such initiatives. Both sides overlook the possibility that the passage of time conditions these relationships, however. We aim to bridge these opposing perspectives by distinguishing between short-term and long-term effects of economic hard times on institutionalized regional cooperation. We argue that in the short term economic crises impede regional institutionalization due to protectionist pressures, nationalistic public sentiments, and political instability. This effect is reversed in the longer term, as interest groups and the public adopt more favorable attitudes toward regional economic organizations (REOs) and governments employ these institutions to demonstrate their competence and to improve economic conditions. We evaluate this argument in relations to regional institutionalization, which refers to the functional scope and structure of REOs. Using a data set that contains information on this dimension for thirty REOs over four decades, we find strong support for the theoretical framework: regional institutionalization remains stagnant in the immediate aftermath of economic crises, but increases in subsequent years.
Using a Head Pointer or Eye Gaze: The Effect of Gaze on Spatial AR Remote Collaboration for Physical Tasks
Authors: Wang Peng , Bai Xiaoliang , Billinghurst Mark , Zhang Shusheng , He Weiping , Han Dechuan , Wang Yue , Min Haitao , Lan Weiqi , Han Shu 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThis paper investigates the effect of using augmented reality (AR) annotations and two different gaze visualizations, head pointer (HP) and eye gaze (EG), in an AR system for remote collaboration on physical tasks. First, we developed a spatial AR remote collaboration platform that supports sharing the remote expert’s HP or EG cues. Then the prototype system was evaluated with a user study comparing three conditions for sharing non-verbal cues: (1) a cursor pointer (CP), (2) HP and (3) EG with respect to task performance, workload assessment and user experience. We found that there was a clear difference between these three conditions in the performance time but no significant difference between the HP and EG conditions. When considering the perceived collaboration quality, the HP/EG interface was statistically significantly higher than the CP interface, but there was no significant difference for workload assessment between these three conditions. We used low-cost head tracking for the HP cue and found that this served as an effective referential pointer. This implies that in some circumstances, HP could be a good proxy for EG in remote collaboration. Head pointing is more accessible and cheaper to use than more expensive eye-tracking hardware and paves the way for multi-modal interaction based on HP and gesture in AR remote collaboration.
Pandemic Powers: Why Human Rights Organizations Should Not Lose Focus on Civil and Political Rights
Authors: Seyhan Eda 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
In response to the rise of ‘populism’ and the perceived threat to human rights that it represents, human rights advocates have argued that NGOs must speak to the economic anxieties of majority populations by increasing work on economic and social rights. In this essay, I present a counter-argument to this proposal, drawing on insights from the COVID-19 pandemic and my experiences working at Amnesty International and monitoring emergency powers during the pandemic for Covid State Watch. I argue that international human rights NGOs should retain a focus on civil and political rights for three reasons. The COVID-19 pandemic has (1) revealed and reinforced the vast repressive power of the state and consequent serious risks to civil and political rights in the global North and (2) demonstrated that human rights NGOs are often alone in challenging restrictions to civil and political rights, especially during crises. I further suggest that, in contrast to the civil and political rights sphere, (3) human rights NGOs offer little ‘value added’ in the field of economic and social rights in the global North. I conclude by proposing that human rights serve their most useful function when they protect those who few others are willing to defend, such as the vector of disease, the terrorist and the criminal.
Ultrashort-segment Hirschsprung disease in a 4-year-old female
Authors: Rodas Alejandra , Barillas Sabrina , Ardebol Javier 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is characterized by the absence of neuronal ganglion cells in a distal portion of the intestinal tract [1]. In 1691, Frederick Ruysch described the disease as congenital megacolon. HSCR-associated congenital anomalies have been reported in 5–32% of affected patients [2]. The clinical symptoms of HSCR are usually evident in the neonatal period. However, in some cases where the extent of the aganglionic segment is short, symptoms may become clinically relevant later in childhood [3]. HSCR is one of the most difficult diseases to identify in pediatric surgery due to its multiple clinical, histological and radiological variations [2, 3]. The goal of surgical management is to remove the aganglionic segment and reconstruct the intestinal tract through techniques such as Swenson, Duhamel and Soave [4]. The following case consists of a 4-year-old patient with a chronic presentation of constipation secondary to ultrashort-segment Hirschsprung disease.
How unusual is the Milky Way’s assembly history?
Authors: Evans Tilly A , Fattahi Azadeh , Deason Alis J , Frenk Carlos S 
Published: July 2020

ABSTRACT
In the lambda cold dark matter (ΛCDM) model of structure formation galactic haloes build-up by accretion of mass and mergers of smaller haloes. The most recent massive merger event experienced by the Milky Way (MW) halo was the accretion of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC; which has a stellar mass of ∼109M⊙). Recent analyses of galactic stellar data from the Gaia satellite have uncovered an earlier massive accretion event, the Gaia-Enceladus Sausage (GES), which merged with the MW around 10 Gyr ago. Here, we use the EAGLE cosmological hydrodynamics simulation to study properties of simulated MW-mass haloes constrained to have accretion histories similar to that of the MW, specifically the recent accretion of an ‘LMC’ galaxy and a ‘GES’ merger, with a quiescent period between the GES merger and the infall of the LMC (the ‘LMC and GES’ category). We find that ∼16 per cent of MW-mass haloes have an LMC; ∼5 per cent have a GES event and no further merger with an equally massive object since z = 1; and only 0.65 per cent belong to the LMC and GES category. The progenitors of the MWs in this last category are much less massive than average at early times but eventually catch up with the mean. The LMC and GES category of galaxies naturally end up in the ‘blue cloud’ in the colour–magnitude diagram at z = 0, tend to have a disc morphology and have a larger than average number of satellite galaxies.
Bar effect on gas-phase abundance gradients – II. Luminosity-dependent flattening
Authors: Zurita A , Florido E , Bresolin F , Pérez I , Pérez-Montero E 
Published: July 2020

ABSTRACT
We present here the second part of a project that aims at solving the controversy regarding the issue of the bar effect on the radial distribution of metals in the gas-phase of spiral galaxies. In Paper I, we presented a compilation of more than 2800 H ii regions belonging to 51 nearby galaxies for which we derived chemical abundances and radial abundance profiles from a homogeneous methodology. In this paper, we analyse the derived gas-phase radial abundance profiles of 12+log (O/H) and log (N/O), for barred and unbarred galaxies separately, and find that the differences in slope between barred and unbarred galaxies depend on galaxy luminosity. This is due to a different dependence of the abundance gradients (in dex kpc−1) on luminosity for the two types of galaxies: in the galaxy sample under consideration the gradients appear to be considerably shallower for strongly barred galaxies in the whole luminosity range, while profile slopes for unbarred galaxies become steeper with decreasing luminosity. Therefore, we only detect differences in slope for the lower luminosity (lower mass) galaxies (MB ≳ −19.5 or M* ≲ 1010.4 M⊙). We discuss the results in terms of the disc evolution and radial mixing induced by bars and spiral arms. Our results reconcile previous discrepant findings that were biased by the luminosity (mass) distribution of the sample galaxies and possibly by the abundance diagnostics employed.
NRF2 preserves genomic integrity by facilitating ATR activation and G2 cell cycle arrest
Authors: Sun Xiaohui , Wang Yan , Ji Kaihua , Liu Yang , Kong Yangyang , Nie Shasha , Li Na , Hao Jianxiu , Xie Yi , Xu Chang , Du Liqing , Liu Qiang 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a well-characterized transcription factor that protects cells against oxidative and electrophilic stresses. Emerging evidence has suggested that NRF2 protects cells against DNA damage by mechanisms other than antioxidation, yet the mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that knockout of NRF2 in cells results in hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation (IR) in the presence or absence of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Under ROS scavenging conditions, induction of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) increases the NRF2 protein level and recruits NRF2 to DNA damage sites where it interacts with ATR, resulting in activation of the ATR–CHK1–CDC2 signaling pathway. In turn, this leads to G2 cell cycle arrest and the promotion of homologous recombination repair of DSBs, thereby preserving genome stability. The inhibition of NRF2 by brusatol increased the radiosensitivity of tumor cells in xenografts by perturbing ATR and CHK1 activation. Collectively, our results reveal a novel function of NRF2 as an ATR activator in the regulation of the cellular response to DSBs. This shift in perspective should help furnish a more complete understanding of the function of NRF2 and the DNA damage response.
A Prognostic Gene-Expression Signature and Risk Score for Meningioma Recurrence After Resection
Authors: Chen William C , Vasudevan Harish N , Choudhury Abrar , Pekmezci Melike , Lucas Calixto-Hope G , Phillips Joanna , Magill Stephen T , Susko Matthew S , Braunstein Steve E , Oberheim Bush Nancy Ann , Boreta Lauren , Nakamura Jean L , Villanueva-Meyer Javier E , Sneed Penny K , Perry Arie , McDermott Michael W , Solomon David A , Theodosopoulos Philip V , Raleigh David R 
Published: July 2020

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Prognostic markers for meningioma are needed to risk-stratify patients and guide postoperative surveillance and adjuvant therapy.

OBJECTIVE
To identify a prognostic gene signature for meningioma recurrence and mortality after resection using targeted gene-expression analysis.

METHODS
Targeted gene-expression analysis was used to interrogate a discovery cohort of 96 meningiomas and an independent validation cohort of 56 meningiomas with comprehensive clinical follow-up data from separate institutions. Bioinformatic analysis was used to identify prognostic genes and generate a gene-signature risk score between 0 and 1 for local recurrence.

RESULTS
We identified a 36-gene signature of meningioma recurrence after resection that achieved an area under the curve of 0.86 in identifying tumors at risk for adverse clinical outcomes. The gene-signature risk score compared favorably to World Health Organization (WHO) grade in stratifying cases by local freedom from recurrence (LFFR, P < .001 vs .09, log-rank test), shorter time to failure (TTF, F-test, P < .0001), and overall survival (OS, P < .0001 vs .07) and was independently associated with worse LFFR (relative risk [RR] 1.56, 95% CI 1.30-1.90) and OS (RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.07-1.64), after adjusting for clinical covariates. When tested on an independent validation cohort, the gene-signature risk score remained associated with shorter TTF (F-test, P = .002), compared favorably to WHO grade in stratifying cases by OS (P = .003 vs P = .10), and was significantly associated with worse OS (RR 1.86, 95% CI 1.19-2.88) on multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION
The prognostic meningioma gene-expression signature and risk score presented may be useful for identifying patients at risk for recurrence.
The Effects of Competition and Entry in Multi-sided Markets
Authors: Tan Guofu , Zhou Junjie 
Published: July 2020

AbstractWe study price competition and entry of platforms in multi-sided markets. Utilizing the simplicity of the equilibrium pricing formula in our setting with heterogeneity of customers’ membership benefits, we demonstrate that in the presence of externalities, the standard effects of competition can be reversed: as platform competition increases, prices, and platform profits can go up and consumer surplus can go down. We identify economic forces that jointly determine the social inefficiency of the free-entry equilibrium and provide conditions under which free entry is socially excessive as well as an example in which free entry is socially insufficient.
Building the City: From Slums to a Modern Metropolis
Authors: Henderson J Vernon , Regan Tanner , Venables Anthony J 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
We model the building of a city, estimate parameters of the model, and calculate welfare losses from institutional frictions encountered in changing land-use. We distinguish formal and slum construction technologies; in contrast to slums, formal structures can be built tall, are durable, and non-malleable. As the city grows areas are initially developed informally, then formally, and then redeveloped periodically. Slums are modelled as a technology choice; however, institutional frictions in land markets may hinder their conversion to formal usage that requires secure property rights. Using unique data on Nairobi for 2003 and 2015, we develop a novel set of facts that support assumptions of the model, estimate all parameters of the model, and calculate welfare losses of conversion frictions. We track the dynamic evolution of the city and compare it with model predictions. In the core city formal sector, about a third of buildings were torn down over 12 years and replaced by buildings on average three times higher. For slums in older areas near the centre, even after buying out slumlords, overcoming institutional frictions would yield gains amounting to about ${\$}$18,000 per slum household, thirty times typical annual slum rent payments.
Individual and familial characteristics of patients with podoconiosis attending a clinic in Musanze District, Rwanda: A retrospective study
Authors: Bikorimana Jean Paul , Bayisenge Ursin , Huston Tonya , Ruberanziza Eugene , Mbonigaba Jean Bosco , Dukuzimana Marie Josee , Davey Gail 
Published: July 2020

Abstract

Background
Podoconiosis is a progressive swelling of the legs affecting genetically susceptible people who live in areas with irritant red clay soils and walk barefoot. The disease is a public health concern in many countries, including Rwanda.

Methods
This retrospective study described individual and familial characteristics of patients with podoconiosis attending the Heart and Sole Africa (HASA) clinics in Rwanda. Data on patient characteristics and family history were retrieved from electronic medical records (January 2013 – August 2019). A multiple regression analysis was used to explore factors influencing age of onset of podoconiosis.

Results
Among 467 patients with podoconiosis, the mean (standard deviation) age of onset was 34.4 (19.6) years, 139 (29.8%) patients developed podoconiosis at &lt;20 years of age, 417 (89%) came from Musanze or neighboring Burera Districts, and 238 (51.0%) had a family history of podoconiosis. Increasing patient age was associated with older age at onset of disease (p&lt;0.001), while an increased number of relatives with podoconiosis (p&lt;0.002) was significantly associated with earlier disease onset.

Conclusion
Most patients with podoconiosis were women, and more than half had a family history of podoconiosis. An increased number of relatives with podoconiosis was associated with a significantly younger age at disease onset.