bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Donor risk analysis and validation in heart transplants: a single-centre experience
Authors: Murana Giacomo , Fiorentino Mariafrancesca , Gliozzi Gregorio , Di Marco Luca , Potena Luciano , Martin Suarez Sofia , Pacini Davide , Loforte Antonio 
Published: September 2020

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
A heart transplant (Htx) remains the gold standard treatment for patients with advanced heart failure. Considering the limited availability of organs, donor risk scores might improve organ selection and allocation. The objective of the study was to compare United Network for Organ Sharing, RADIAL and Eurotransplant scoring models in calculating post-Htx outcomes in an Italian Htx population.

METHODS
Between January 2000 and December 2017, a total of 461 adult patients underwent Htxs. United Network for Organ Sharing, RADIAL and Eurotransplant scores were calculated. Clinical features and donor risk scores were tested to identify preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative risk variables and eventually validate the scores on our population.

RESULTS
Early graft failure was detected in 16.1% (74/461). Post-Htx extracorporeal life support was used in 11.1% (51/461). Of the donor-related factors, the use of noradrenaline (P = 0.015) negatively influenced early outcomes, whereas an ischaemic time &gt;240 min (P = 0.037) influenced early graft failure occurrence. The Eurotransplant donor score did not impact outcomes; the RADIAL score significantly influenced both early and late mortality; and the United Network for Organ Sharing score influenced only late mortality. On the multivariable analysis, after adjustment of scores per cohort, noradrenaline infusion was the main independent predictor of in-hospital mortality for the donors, whereas age of the recipient [odds ratio (OR) 1.003, 1.003–1.081; P = 0.032] and use of preoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (OR 3.320, 1.124–9.805; P = 0.030) were the main independent predictors for the recipients.

CONCLUSIONS
None of the validated donor scoring systems fully behave as reliable predictors of transplant outcomes. According to our ‘local only’ graft selection, specific donor and recipient risk variables should be monitored in order to predict early and late outcomes satisfactorily.
Tight recovery guarantees for orthogonal matching pursuit under Gaussian noise
Authors: Amiraz Chen , Krauthgamer Robert , Nadler Boaz 
Published: September 2020

AbstractOrthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) is a popular algorithm to estimate an unknown sparse vector from multiple linear measurements of it. Assuming exact sparsity and that the measurements are corrupted by additive Gaussian noise, the success of OMP is often formulated as exactly recovering the support of the sparse vector. Several authors derived a sufficient condition for exact support recovery by OMP with high probability depending on the signal-to-noise ratio, defined as the magnitude of the smallest non-zero coefficient of the vector divided by the noise level. We make two contributions. First, we derive a slightly sharper sufficient condition for two variants of OMP, in which either the sparsity level or the noise level is known. Next, we show that this sharper sufficient condition is tight, in the following sense: for a wide range of problem parameters, there exist a dictionary of linear measurements and a sparse vector with a signal-to-noise ratio slightly below that of the sufficient condition, for which with high probability OMP fails to recover its support. Finally, we present simulations that illustrate that our condition is tight for a much broader range of dictionaries.
We Must Do Better: Addressing HCV Treatment Barriers in Persons Who Inject Drugs in the United States
Authors: Trooskin Stacey B , Dore Gregory , Kostman Jay 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
The opioid epidemic in the United States, along with a lack of adequate harm reduction services, has contributed to a sharp rise in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Despite considerable evidence of the effectiveness of HCV treatment in people who inject drugs (PWID), and recommendations from clinical guidelines to prioritize treatment in PWID, there are multiple barriers to broad uptake of HCV treatment. These barriers exist at the systems level, as well as at the level of medical providers and patients. Interventions to remove treatment barriers in the United States include harm reduction services, simplifying HCV testing algorithms, improved linkage to HCV care services, and application of new treatment models including colocating services at substance use disorder treatment programs. By following the lead of other countries who have addressed the barriers to HCV treatment, the United States has opportunities to do better in addressing the consequences of the opioid epidemic, including chronic HCV infection.
Modernizing health information technology: lessons from healthcare delivery systems
Authors: Amlung Joseph , Huth Hannah , Cullen Theresa , Sequist Thomas 
Published: September 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo identify recurrent themes, insights, and process recommendations from stakeholders in US organizations during the health information technology (HIT) modernization of an existing electronic health record (EHR) to a commercial-off-the-shelf product in both resource-plentiful settings and in a resource-constrained environment, the US Indian Health Service.Materials and MethodsThirteen qualitative interviews with stakeholders in various organizations were conducted about HIT modernization efforts. Using a Theory of Change framework, recurring themes were identified and analyzed.ResultsThe interviewees emphasized the importance of organizational and process revision during modernization, converting historical data, and clinical and leadership involvement. HIT implementation required technological and infrastructure redesign, additional training, and workflow reconfiguration. Motivations for modernization included EHR usability dissatisfaction, revenue enhancements, and improved clinical operations. Decision-making strategies, primarily during HIT selection, included meetings with stakeholders. Successful modernization resulted in improvements in clinical operations, patient experience, and financial outlay.DiscussionExisting implementation frameworks fail to provide experiential feedback, such as implementation challenges, like data conversion, regulatory, functionality, and interoperability requirements. Regardless of the healthcare environment, HIT modernization requires the engagement of leadership and end-users during HIT selection and through all stages of the implementation to prepare people, processes, and technology. Organizations must iteratively define the technological, infrastructure, organizational, and workflow changes required for a successful HIT modernization effort.ConclusionsHIT modernization is an opportunity for organizational and technological change. Successful modernization requires a comprehensive, intentional, well-communicated, and multidisciplinary approach. Resource-constrained environments have the additional challenges of financial burdens, limited staffing, and unstable infrastructure.
Induction of Wnt signaling antagonists and p21-activated kinase enhances cardiomyocyte proliferation during zebrafish heart regeneration
Authors: Peng Xiangwen , Lai Kaa Seng , She Peilu , Kang Junsu , Wang Tingting , Li Guobao , Zhou Yating , Sun Jianjian , Jin Daqing , Xu Xiaolei , Liao Lujian , Liu Jiandong , Lee Ethan , Poss Kenneth D , Zhong Tao P 
Published: September 2020

AbstractHeart regeneration occurs by dedifferentiation and proliferation of pre-existing cardiomyocytes (CMs). However, the signaling mechanisms by which injury induces CM renewal remain incompletely understood. Here, we find that cardiac injury in zebrafish induces expression of the secreted Wnt inhibitors, including Dickkopf 1 (Dkk1), Dkk3, secreted Frizzled-related protein 1 (sFrp1), and sFrp2, in cardiac tissue adjacent to injury sites. Experimental blocking of Wnt activity via Dkk1 overexpression enhances CM proliferation and heart regeneration, whereas ectopic activation of Wnt8 signaling blunts injury-induced CM dedifferentiation and proliferation. Although Wnt signaling is dampened upon injury, the cytoplasmic β-catenin is unexpectedly increased at disarrayed CM sarcomeres in myocardial wound edges. Our analyses indicated that p21-activated kinase 2 (Pak2) is induced at regenerating CMs, where it phosphorylates cytoplasmic β-catenin at Ser 675 and increases its stability at disassembled sarcomeres. Myocardial-specific induction of the phospho-mimetic β-catenin (S675E) enhances CM dedifferentiation and sarcomere disassembly in response to injury. Conversely, inactivation of Pak2 kinase activity reduces the Ser 675-phosphorylated β-catenin (pS675-β-catenin) and attenuates CM sarcomere disorganization and dedifferentiation. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that coordination of Wnt signaling inhibition and Pak2/pS675-β-catenin signaling enhances zebrafish heart regeneration by supporting CM dedifferentiation and proliferation.
Environmental Drivers of Adult Seasonality and Abundance of Biting Midges Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Bluetongue Vector Species in Spain
Authors: Barceló Carlos , Purse Bethan V , Estrada Rosa , Lucientes Javier , Miranda Miguel Á , Searle Kate R 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBluetongue is a viral disease affecting wild and domestic ruminants transmitted by several species of biting midges Culicoides Latreille. The phenology of these insects were analyzed in relation to potential environmental drivers. Data from 329 sites in Spain were analyzed using Bayesian Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) approaches. The effects of environmental factors on adult female seasonality were contrasted. Obsoletus complex species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) were the most prevalent across sites, followed by Culicoides newsteadi Austen (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Activity of female Obsoletus complex species was longest in sites at low elevation, with warmer spring average temperatures and precipitation, as well as in sites with high abundance of cattle. The length of the Culicoides imicola Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) female adult season was also longest in sites at low elevation with higher coverage of broad-leaved vegetation. Long adult seasons of C. newsteadi were found in sites with warmer autumns and higher precipitation, high abundance of sheep. Culicoides pulicaris (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) had longer adult periods in sites with a greater number of accumulated degree days over 10°C during winter. These results demonstrate the eco-climatic and seasonal differences among these four taxa in Spain, which may contribute to determining sites with suitable environmental circumstances for each particular species to inform assessments of the risk of Bluetongue virus outbreaks in this region.
Evaluation of the NG-Test CARBA 5 Kit for Rapid Detection of Carbapenemase Resistant Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Ben-Haim Or , Azrad Maya , Saleh Nora , Tkhawkho Linda , Peretz Avi 
Published: September 2020

Abstract

Objective
We evaluated NG-Test CARBA 5, a new phenotypic carbapenemase detection assay, and compared it to the routine Xpert CARBA-R polymerase chain reaction assay. Furthermore, we tested the kit’s performance after bacterial growth on 4 different solid media.

Methods
Seventy carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) isolates (60 were carbapenemase producers) were collected at the Poriya Baruch Padeh Medical Center. All isolates were grown on 4 types of agar media—BD BBL CHROMagar carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae, BD CHROMagar Orientation, BD MacConkey II agar, and BD Trypticase Soy Agar II with 5% sheep blood—and were then subjected to NG-Test CARBA 5 kit analysis.

Results
The NG-Test CARBA 5 specificity was 100% for all 4 media. However, the sensitivity was higher when bacteria were grown on TSA with 5% sheep blood (98.3%) as compared with the Orientation medium (88.3%), the CPE medium (84.7%), and the MacConkey medium (83.6%). In addition, some of the carbapenemase mechanisms such as Verona Integron-Mediated Metallo-β-lactamase were detected with low agreement levels in specific media but higher agreement levels in the other media.

Conclusion
NG-Test CARBA 5 may enable faster detection of carbapenemase producing CRE, which will be of value for treatment adjustment and prevention control. However, the medium type on which the bacteria are grown affects kit sensitivity.
Effect of the environment on star formation activity and stellar mass for star-forming galaxies in the COSMOS field
Authors: Randriamampandry S M , Vaccari M , Hess K M 
Published: September 2020

ABSTRACT
We investigate the relationship between the environment and the galaxy main sequence (the relationship between stellar mass and star formation rate), as well as the relationship between the environment and radio luminosity ($P_{\rm 1.4\, GHz}$), to shed new light on the effects of the environment on galaxies. We use the VLA-COSMOS 3-GHz catalogue, which consists of star-forming galaxies and quiescent galaxies (active galactic nuclei) in three different environments (field, filament, cluster) and for three different galaxy types (satellite, central, isolated). We perform for the first time a comparative analysis of the distribution of star-forming galaxies with respect to the main-sequence consensus region from the literature, taking into account galaxy environment and using radio observations at 0.1 ≤ z ≤ 1.2. Our results corroborate that the star formation rate is declining with cosmic time, which is consistent with the literature. We find that the slope of the main sequence for different z and M* bins is shallower than the main-sequence consensus, with a gradual evolution towards higher redshift bins, irrespective of environment. We see no trends for star formation rate in either environment or galaxy type, given the large errors. In addition, we note that the environment does not seem to be the cause of the flattening of the main sequence at high stellar masses for our sample.
Eclipses of jets and discs of X-ray binaries as a powerful tool for understanding jet physics and binary parameters
Authors: Maccarone Thomas J , van den Eijnden Jakob , Russell Thomas D , Degenaar Nathalie 
Published: September 2020

ABSTRACT
We calculate the expected effects on the spectral energy distributions and light curves in X-ray binary jets from eclipses by the donor stars. Jets will be eclipsed for all inclination angles, with just the height along the jet where the eclipse takes place being set by the orbital parameters. Typically, eclipses will lead to 5–10 per cent reductions in the jet emission over a range of a factor of few in wavelength with a periodic modulation. In ideal systems with high inclination angles, relatively even mass ratios, and modest jet speeds, the eclipses may be deeper. We discuss how eclipses can be used to measure binary system parameters, as well as the height of the bases of the jets. We also discuss how, with data sets that will likely require future facilities, more detailed tests of models of jet physics could be made by establishing deviations from the standard recipes for compact conical flat spectrum jets and by determining the ingress and egress durations of the eclipses and measuring the transverse size of the jets. We provide representative calculations of expectations for different classes of systems, demonstrating that the most promising target for showing this effect in the radio band is the longer period ‘atoll’-class neutron star X-ray binaries, while in the optical and infrared bands, the best candidates are likely to be the most edge-on black hole X-ray binaries. We also discuss the effects of the outer accretion disc eclipsing the inner jet.
Dark Energy Survey Year 3 results: cosmology with moments of weak lensing mass maps – validation on simulations
Authors: Gatti M , Chang C , Friedrich O , Jain B , Bacon D , Crocce M , DeRose J , Ferrero I , Fosalba P , Gaztanaga E , Gruen D , Harrison I , Jeffrey N , MacCrann N , McClintock T , Secco L , Whiteway L , Abbott T M C , Allam S , Annis J , Avila S , Brooks D , Buckley-Geer E , Burke D L , Carnero Rosell A , Carrasco Kind M , Carretero J , Cawthon R , da Costa L N , De Vicente J , Desai S , Diehl H T , Doel P , Eifler T F , Estrada J , Everett S , Evrard A E , Frieman J , García-Bellido J , Gerdes D W , Gruendl R A , Gschwend J , Gutierrez G , James D J , Johnson M D , Krause E , Kuehn K , Lima M , Maia M A G , March M , Marshall J L , Melchior P , Menanteau F , Miquel R , Palmese A , Paz-Chinchón F , Plazas A A , Sánchez C , Sanchez E , Scarpine V , Schubnell M , Santiago S , Sevilla-Noarbe I , Smith M , Soares-Santos M , Suchyta E , Swanson M E C , Tarle G , Thomas D , Troxel M A , Zuntz J ,   (Des Collaboration)
Published: September 2020

ABSTRACT
We present a simulated cosmology analysis using the second and third moments of the weak lensing mass (convergence) maps. The second moment, or variances, of the convergence as a function of smoothing scale contains information similar to standard shear two-point statistics. The third moment, or the skewness, contains additional non-Gaussian information. The analysis is geared towards the third year (Y3) data from the Dark Energy Survey (DES), but the methodology can be applied to other weak lensing data sets. We present the formalism for obtaining the convergence maps from the measured shear and for obtaining the second and third moments of these maps given partial sky coverage. We estimate the covariance matrix from a large suite of numerical simulations. We test our pipeline through a simulated likelihood analyses varying 5 cosmological parameters and 10 nuisance parameters and identify the scales where systematic or modelling uncertainties are not expected to affect the cosmological analysis. Our simulated likelihood analysis shows that the combination of second and third moments provides a 1.5 per cent constraint on S8 ≡ σ8(Ωm/0.3)0.5 for DES Year 3 data. This is 20 per cent better than an analysis using a simulated DES Y3 shear two-point statistics, owing to the non-Gaussian information captured by the inclusion of higher order statistics. This paper validates our methodology for constraining cosmology with DES Year 3 data, which will be presented in a subsequent paper.
Relativistic accretion disc reflection in AGN X-ray spectra at z = 0.5–4: a study of four Chandra Deep Fields
Authors: Baronchelli L , Nandra K , Buchner J 
Published: September 2020

ABSTRACT
We confirm that the spectra are best fit by a model containing two Compton reflection components, one from distant material, and the other displaying relativistic broadening, most likely from the inner accretion disc. The degree of relativistic broadening indicates a preference for high black hole spin, but the reflection is weaker than that expected for a flat disc illuminated by a point source. We investigate the Compton reflection signatures as a function of luminosity, redshift, and obscuration, confirming an X-ray Baldwin effect for both the narrow and broad components of the iron line. Anticorrelations are also seen with redshift and obscuring column density, but are difficult to disentangle from the Baldwin effect. Our methodology is able to extract information from multiple spectra with low signal-to-noise ratio (SN), and can be applied to future data sets such as eROSITA. We show using simulations, however, that it is necessary to apply an appropriate S/N cut to the samples to ensure the spectra add useful information.
Herbig–Haro flows around the BBWo 192E (GM 1–23) nebula
Authors: Magakian T Yu , Movsessian T A , Andreasyan H R , Bally J , Rastorguev A S 
Published: September 2020

ABSTRACT
Looking for evidence of recent star formation, we have studied a small comet-shaped reflection nebula, known as BBWo 192E (GM 1–23), which is located in the dark cloud SL 4 in the Vela Molecular Ridge cloud C, and a young infrared cluster embedded into the nebula. We obtained the images of BBWo 192E in Hα and [S ii] lines and in a Sloan Digital Sky Survey i ′ filter with the Blanco telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in order to discover new Herbig–Haro (HH) flows. We used the Two-Micron All-Sky Survey and the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer to search for additional member stars of the cluster. We also studied the proper motions and parallaxes of the cluster members using GAIA Data Release 2. Five new groups containing at least nine HH objects, tracing several distinct outflows, were revealed. A previously unreported reflection nebula and a number of probable outflow sources were found in the infrared range. The proper motions allowed us to select eight probable member stars in the visual range. Their parallaxes correspond to a mean distance 800 ± 100 pc for this cluster. The bolometric luminosities of the brightest cluster members are 1010 L⊙ (IRAS 08513−4201, the strong source in the centre of the cluster) and 2–6 L⊙ for the five other stars. The existence of optical HH flows around the infrared cluster of young stellar objects suggests that star formation in this cloud is ongoing around the more massive Herbig Ae/Be star. Considering its morphology and other features, this star-forming region is similar to the zone of star formation near CPM 19.
External Validation of the Timed Up and Go Test as Measure of Objective Functional Impairment in Patients With Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
Authors: Stienen Martin N , Maldaner Nicolai , Sosnova Marketa , Zeitlberger Anna M , Ziga Michal , Weyerbrock Astrid , Bozinov Oliver , Gautschi Oliver P 
Published: September 2020

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is the most commonly applied objective measure of functional impairment in patients with lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD).

OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate external content validity of the TUG test.

METHODS
Consecutive adult patients, scheduled for elective lumbar spine surgery, were screened for enrollment into a prospective observational study. Disease severity was estimated by patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs; Visual Analog Scales [VAS], Core Outcome Measures Index [COMI] back, Zurich Claudication Questionnaire [ZCQ]) and the TUG test. Pearson correlation coefficients (PCCs) were used to describe the relationship between logarithmic TUG test raw values and PROMs

RESULTS
A total of 70 patients (mean age 55.9 ± 15.4 yr; 38.6% female; 27.1% previous spine surgery; 28.6% lower extremity motor deficits) with lumbar disc herniation (50%), lumbar spinal stenosis (34.3%), or instability requiring spinal fusion (15.7%) were included. The mean TUG test time was 10.8 ± 4.4 s; age- and sex-adjusted objective functional impairment (OFI) T-score was 134.2 ± 36.9. A total of 12 (17.1%) patients had mild, 14 (20%) moderate, and 9 (12.9%) severe OFI, while 35 (50%) had TUG test results within the normal population range (no OFI). PCCs between TUG test time and VAS back pain were r = 0.37 (P = .002), VAS leg pain r = 0.37 (P = .002), COMI back r = 0.50 (P < .001), ZCQ symptom severity r = 0.41 (P < .001), and ZCQ physical function r = 0.36 (P = .002).

CONCLUSION
This external validation demonstrated similar OFI rates and PCCs between logarithmic TUG test results and PROMs compared to the original article from 2016. These findings support the TUG test being a quick, easy-to-use objective test, which provides the physician with a robust estimate of pain and functional impairment.