bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Experimental investigation of right‐left flow balance concepts for a total artificial heart
Authors: Diedrich Mario , Hildebrand Stephan , Lommel Moritz K. , Finocchiaro Thomas , Cuenca Elena , De Ben Heiko , Schmitz‐Rode Thomas , Steinseifer Ulrich , Jansen Sebastian 
Published: October 2020

AbstractA total artificial heart (TAH) must be designed to autonomously balance the flows of the systemic and pulmonary circulation to prevent potentially lethal lung damage. The flow difference between the systemic and pulmonary circulation is mainly caused by the bronchial (arteries) shunt flow and can change dynamically. The ReinHeart TAH consists of only one actuator that ejects blood alternately from the right and left pump chamber. This design entails a coupling of the right and left stroke and thus, complicates the independent adaptation of the right and left flow. In this experimental study on the ReinHeart TAH, four concepts to keep the flows well balanced were investigated using an active mock circulation loop for data acquisition. Three concepts are based on mechanical design changes (variation of pusher plate shape, flexible right pump chamber housing, and reduced right stroke volume) to achieve a static flow difference. In combination with these static concepts, a concept influencing the ratio of systole and diastole duration to respond to dynamic changes was studied. In total, four measurement series, each with 270 operating points, to investigate the influence of circulatory filling volume, heart rate, bronchial shunt flow, and lung resistance were recorded. In the course of this study, we introduce a concept deviation indicator, providing information about the efficiency of the concepts to balance the flows based on changes in lung’s blood pressures. Furthermore, the distribution of the measured data was evaluated based on bubble plot visualizations. The investigated variation of the right pusher plate shape results in high lung pressures which will cause lethal lung damage. In comparison, a flexible right pump chamber housing shows lower lung pressures, but it still has the potential to damage the lungs. Reducing the stroke volume of the right pump chamber results in proper lung pressures. The flow balance can dynamically be influenced with a positive effect on the lung pressures by choosing a suitable systole‐diastole‐ratio. The results of this study suggest that an adequate right‐left flow balance can be achieved by combining the mechanical concept of a reduced right stroke volume with an active control of the systole‐diastole‐ratio.
Heart transplant waiting list implications of increased ventricular assist device use as a bridge strategy: A national analysis
Authors: Han Jason J. , Elzayn Hadi , Duda Matthew M. , Iyengar Amit , Acker Andrew M. , Patrick William L. , Helmers Mark , Birati Edo Y. , Atluri Pavan 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe use of ventricular assist devices (VADs) as a bridge to heart transplant (HT) is increasing, while HT volume remains stagnant. This may portend longer waiting times and an otherwise more competitive environment for all patients on the HT waiting list. A retrospective analysis of patients who were listed for HT in the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database from 2000 to 2015 was conducted. Mean waiting time, proportion of HT reception (%HT), proportion of death (%death), and proportion of waiting list removal (%removal) were calculated across three eras: Era 1 (2000‐2007), Era 2 (2008‐2011), and Era 3 (2012‐2015). During the study period, 29 728 patients successfully underwent HT. 19 127 (64.3%) were directly transplanted (direct HT); 4491 (15.1%) received VADs prior to listing as a bridge to decision (BTD); and 4593 (15.5%) received VADs after listing as a bridge to transplant (BTT). Across the three eras, the average number of registrants per year grew. Among all groups, waiting time increased across the eras. %HT generally decreased in the BTD and BTT groups but remained constant in the direct HT group. %removal increased, while %death decreased in all group across the eras. Waiting time for HT increased from 2000 to 2015. Patients with VADs as a bridge strategy experienced decreasing %HT and increasing %removal but stable survival. Improvements in VAD safety and durability will ensure their success as part of a bridge strategy to HT under the new UNOS allocation policy.
Re‐endothelialization of non‐detergent decellularized porcine vessels
Authors: Eyre Katerina , Samper Esther , Haverich Axel , Hilfiker Andres , Andrée Birgit 
Published: October 2020

AbstractTissue engineering utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to generate constructs for the treatment and repair of diseased organs. Generation of small vessels as vascular grafts or as envisioned central vessel for vascularized constructs is still a challenge. Here, the decellularization of porcine vessels by a non‐detergent based protocol was developed and investigated. Perfusion‐decellularization with sodium hydroxide solution resulted in removal of cellular material throughout the whole length of the vessel while preserving structural and mechanical integrity. A re‐endothelialization of the retrieved matrix with human umbilical vein endothelial cells and cardiac endothelial cells was achieved through rotation‐based seeding employing a custom‐made bioreactor. A confluent monolayer was detected on the entire luminal surface. Thus, a non‐detergent‐based decellularization method allowing the re‐endothelialization of the luminal surface was developed in this study, thereby paving the way for future implementation of the resulting construct as vascular graft or as central vessel for tissue engineered constructs in need of a perfusion system with readily available anastomosis sites.
Simulated chorus attracts conspecific and heterospecific Amazonian explosive breeding frogs
Authors: Fouquet Antoine , Tilly Thomas , Pašukonis Andrius , Courtois Elodie A. , Gaucher Philippe , Sebastian Ulloa Juan , Sueur Jérôme 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn tropical regions, some anuran species breed "explosively", reproducing in massive and highly diverse aggregations during a brief window of time. These aggregations can serve as acoustic beacons, attracting other anurans toward seasonal ponds. We hypothesize that conspecific and heterospecific calls play a role in navigation toward ponds and synchronization of reproduction among species. We simulated a chorus of two species (Trachycephalus coriaceus and Chiasmocleis shudikarensis) with contrasting call characteristics (low‐frequency vs. high‐frequency) and reproductive strategies (strict pond breeder vs. opportunistic) near known explosive breeding sites. We predicted that choruses of T. coriaceus are more attractive to heterospecifics than of C. shudikarensis because the first provides a more reliable indicator of a suitable breeding pond and a better long‐distance signal. We found that both choruses attracted conspecific frogs to the playback outside a natural breeding event. As predicted, heterospecifics were attracted only by low‐frequency calls of T. coriaceus that breeds exclusively in large ponds, but not by higher frequency calls of C. shudikarensis that also breeds in small pools not suitable for other species. Our study presents the first experimental evidence that tropical explosive breeding anurans are attracted to conspecific and heterospecific choruses. The contrasting effect of the playback of the two species on heterospecifics suggests that the attractive effect of a chorus depends on the reproductive strategy of both the sender and the receiver. Given the abundance and diversity of communities in tropical ecosystems, the use of heterospecific acoustic cues may prove widespread and requires further investigation.Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.
Pulmonary metastasectomy in colorectal cancer: health utility scores by EQ‐5D‐3L in a randomized controlled trial show no benefit from lung metastasectomy
Authors: Brew‐Graves Chris , Farewell Vernon , Monson Kathryn , Milošević Mišel , Williams Norman R. , Morris Eva , Macbeth Fergus , Treasure Tom , Fallowfield Lesley 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAimThe aim was to assess the health utility of lung metastasectomy in the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) using the EQ‐5D‐3L questionnaire.MethodsMultidisciplinary CRC teams at 14 sites recruited patients to a two‐arm randomized controlled trial—Pulmonary Metastasectomy in Colorectal Cancer (PulMiCC). Remote randomization was used, stratified by site and with minimization for seven known confounders. Participants completed the EQ‐5D‐3L questionnaire together with other patient reported outcome measures at randomization and then again at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. These were returned by post to the coordinating centre.ResultsBetween December 2010 and December 2016, 93 participants were randomized, 91 of whom returned questionnaires. Survival and patient reported quality of life have been published previously, revealing no significant differences between the trial arms. Described here are patient reported data from the five dimensions of the EQ‐5D‐3L and the visual analogue scale (VAS) health state. No significant difference was seen at any time point. The estimated difference between control and metastasectomy patients was −0.23 (95% CI –0.113, 0.066) for the composite 0 to 1 index scale based on the descriptive system and 0.123 (95% CI –7.24, 7.49) for the 0 to 100 VAS scale.ConclusionsFollowing lung metastasectomy for CRC, no benefit was demonstrated for health utility, which alongside a lack of a survival or quality of life benefit calls into question the widespread use of the procedure.
Trust in the image of God: Links between religiosity and reciprocity in Haiti
Authors: Auriol Emmanuelle , Delissaint Diego , Fourati Maleke , Miquel‐Florensa Josepa , Seabright Paul 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAre religious believers more prosocial than other people? In a trust game field experiment with 774 subjects in Haiti, we elicit willingness to pay to play in the presence of religious images, and argue that this can be interpreted as a measure of the strength of religiosity. More religious individuals trust others more and reciprocate more than others, with effect sizes between 14% and 21% of mean behaviour depending on the measure. They do not reciprocate more in the presence of religious images than without them, nor towards members of the same denomination as themselves. The results support the view that religious affiliation is correlated with intrinsic trustworthiness. We show that lab behaviour correlates with intuitive measures of religiosity outside the lab and with participation in borrowing and lending networks.
The ethics of care and academic motherhood amid COVID‐19
Authors: Miller Karyn E. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic has upended the lives of working parents as they strive to meet the conflicting demands of childcare and professional obligations. While growing evidence suggests the extraordinary challenges to time and work brought by the pandemic, this article explores the pandemic as an opportunity for stillness and reflection, a personal and professional recalibration. Through a personal narrative describing my experiences as an academic and mother before and during the pandemic, framed within the ethics of care, this article brings light to the untenable reality of working mothers pre‐pandemic, explores the ways in which the pandemic has positively facilitated caring relationships at home as well as the reallocation of time and household responsibilities, and argues for policy and legislative action at the institutional and societal levels that support and value the care work of women and men alike.
Current dilemmas in the pathological staging of colorectal cancer: the results of a national survey
Authors: Wong Newton A C S , Bracey Tim S , Mozayani Behrang , Bateman Adrian C , Novelli Marco R , Shepherd Neil A 
Published: October 2020

AimsAccurate and consistent pathological staging of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) in resection specimens is especially crucial to guide adjuvant therapy. The aim of this study was to assess whether certain staging scenarios yield discordant opinions in the setting of current international and UK national guidelines.Methods and resultsMembers of the UK Gastrointestinal Pathology External Quality Assurance Scheme were invited to complete an anonymous, on‐line survey that presented 15 scenarios related to pT or pR staging of CRC, and three questions about the respondent. The survey invitation was e‐mailed to 405 pathologists, and 184 (45%) responses were received. The respondents had discordant opinions on whether and how CRC pT or pR staging is affected by: acellular mucin lakes and duration after short‐course radiotherapy; the nature of the carcinoma at a resection margin or peritoneal surface; and microscopic evidence of perforation. This discordance was rarely related to the respondent's occupation type, and was not related to duration of work as a consultant or the staging guidelines used.ConclusionsThis survey confirms that there remain several clinically critical but unresolved pT and pR staging issues for CRC. These issues therefore deserve attention in future versions of international and national staging guidelines.
Value of dividend signaling in uncertain times
Authors: Baker Hayley , Chang Millicent , Ho Choy Yeing (Chloe) 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWhen investors are uncertain about firm value, they collect private information and contemplate the decisions made by management before trading. In this study, we examine the effects of policy uncertainty on managers' payout decisions and investors' reactions to these decisions. We show that managers tend to increase dividend payouts when uncertainty surrounding government policies is high. This relationship is particularly evident among better performing firms. Investors also respond more favorably to dividend increases in times of uncertainty. As a result, we conclude that policy uncertainty affects the firm's information environment owing to which managers respond to investor demand for information by paying dividends to signal firm quality.
CircHivep2 contributes to microglia activation and inflammation via miR‐181a‐5p/SOCS2 signalling in mice with kainic acid‐induced epileptic seizures
Authors: Xiaoying Gao , Guo Mian , Jie Liu , Yanmei Zhu , Ying Cui , Shengjie Shu , Haiyan Gou , Feixiang Sun , Sihua Qi , Jiahang Sun 
Published: October 2020

AbstractEpilepsy is a chronic brain disease characterized by recurrent seizures. Circular RNA (circRNA) is a novel family of endogenous non‐coding RNAs that have been proposed to regulate gene expression. However, there is a lack of data on the role of circRNA in epilepsy. In this study, the circRNA profiles were evaluated by microarray analysis. In total, 627 circRNAs were up‐regulated, whereas 892 were down‐regulated in the hippocampus in mice with kainic acid (KA)‐induced epileptic seizures compared with control. The expression of circHivep2 was significantly down‐regulated in hippocampus tissues of mice with KA‐induced epileptic seizures and BV‐2 microglia cells upon KA treatment. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that circHivep2 interacts with miR‐181a‐5p to regulate SOCS2 expression, which was validated using a dual‐luciferase reporter assay. Moreover, overexpression of circHivep2 significantly inhibited KA‐induced microglial activation and the expression of inflammatory factors in vitro, which was blocked by miR‐181a‐5p, whereas circHivep2 knockdown further induced microglia cell activation and the release of pro‐inflammatory proteins in BV‐2 microglia cells after KA treatment. The application of circHivep2+ exosomes derived from adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) exerted significant beneficial effects on the behavioural seizure scores of mice with KA‐induced epilepsy compared to control exosomes. The circHivep2+ exosomes also inhibited microglial activation, the expression of inflammatory factors, and the miR‐181a‐5p/SOCS2 axis in vivo. Our results suggest that circHivep2 regulates microglia activation in the progression of epilepsy by interfering with miR‐181a‐5p to promote SOCS2 expression, indicating that circHivep2 may serve as a therapeutic tool to prevent the development of epilepsy.
The long‐term stability of soft tissue augmentation in treatment of localized severe maxillary anterior ridge deformities
Authors: Mathews David P. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe long‐term stability of soft tissue augmentation in treatment of localized severe maxillary anterior ridge deformities.ObjectiveSeverely deformed edentulous ridges in the esthetic zone (EZ) are very difficult to restore with an esthetic fixed dental prosthesis (FDP). Soft tissue augmentation of these deformed ridges can dramatically improve the esthetics of the restoration. The long‐term stability of soft tissue grafting used alone to treat severe localized alveolar ridge deformities will be reported.Clinical ConsiderationsThree different soft tissue augmentation techniques, connective tissue graft (CTG), keratinized gingival graft (KGG), and pediculated connective tissue graft (PCTG) used to treat severe ridge deformities in the maxillary anterior region in five patients will be described. The stability of the augmentation will be shown at follow‐up periods ranging from 5‐30 years.ConclusionsAll three soft tissue grafting techniques demonstrated long‐term stability following the six‐month post‐treatment result.Clinical SignificanceEdentulous ridges in the esthetic zone, with severe hard and soft tissue deformities, are very difficult to restore esthetically. The development of soft tissue augmentation techniques has allowed clinicians to enhance the esthetics of their fixed dental prostheses (FDP). Restorative clinicians need to be assured that soft tissue shrinkage under the pontics will not occur after the final prosthesis is seated. The stability of these soft tissue augmentations over an extended period of time, will be demonstrated in the presented cases.
The effects of different postures and provocative swallow materials on the normative Chicago 3.0 metrics in a healthy Asian population
Authors: Mohd Said Mohd Ridzuan , Wong Zhiqin , Abdul Rani Rafiz , Ngiu Chai Soon , Raja Ali Raja Affendi , Lee Yeong Yeh 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackground and AimVariations in the Chicago 3.0 normative metrics may exist with different postures and with different provocative swallow materials in a healthy Asian population.MethodEligible healthy Malay volunteers were invited to undergo the high‐resolution esophageal manometry (inSIGHT Ultima, Diversatek Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI, USA). In recumbent and standing positions, test swallows were performed using liquid, viscous, and solid materials. Metrics including integrated relaxation pressure 4 s (IRP‐4 s, mmHg), distal contractile integral (DCI, mmHg s cm), distal latency (DL, s), and peristaltic break (PB, cm) were reported in median and 95th percentile.ResultsFifty of 57 screened participants were recruited, and 586 saline, 265 viscous, and 261 solid swallows were analyzed. Per‐patient wise, in the recumbent position, 95th percentile for IRP‐4 s, DCI, DL, and PB were 16.5 mmHg, 2431 mmHg s cm, 8.5 s, and 7.2 cm, respectively. We observed that with each posture, the use of viscous swallows led to changes in DL, but the use of solid swallows led to more changes in the metrics including DCI and length of PB. Compared with a recumbent posture, anupright posture led to lower IRP‐4 s and DCI values. Both per‐patient analysis and per‐swallow analyses yielded almost similar results when comparing the different postures and types of swallows. No major motility disorders were observed in this cohort of asymptomatic population. However, more motility disorders were reported in the upright position.ConclusionsVariations in metrics can be observed in different postures and with different provocative swallow materials in a healthy population. The normative Chicago 3.0 metrics are also determined for the Malay population.
Approaches to Optimize Medication Data Analysis in Clinical Cohort Studies
Authors: Duprey Matthew S. , Devlin John W. , Briesacher Becky A. , Travison Thomas G. , Griffith John L. , Inouye Sharon K. 
Published: October 2020

OBJECTIVESMethods for pharmacoepidemiologic studies of large‐scale data repositories are established. Although clinical cohorts of older adults often contain critical information to advance our understanding of medication risk and benefit, the methods best suited to manage medication data in these samples are sometimes unclear and their degree of validation unknown. We sought to provide researchers, in the context of a clinical cohort study of delirium in older adults, with guidance on the methodological tools to use data from clinical cohorts to better understand medication risk factors and outcomes.DESIGNProspective cohort study.SETTINGThe Successful Aging After Elective Surgery (SAGES) prospective cohort.PARTICIPANTSA total of 560 older adults (aged ≥70 years) without dementia undergoing elective major surgery.MEASUREMENTSUsing the SAGES clinical cohort, methods used to characterize medications were identified, reviewed, analyzed, and distinguished by appropriateness and degree of validation for characterizing pharmacoepidemiologic data in smaller clinical data sets.RESULTSMedication coding is essential; the American Hospital Formulary System, most often used in the United States, is not preferred over others. Use of equivalent dosing scales (e.g., morphine equivalents) for a single medication class (e.g., opioids) is preferred over multiclass analgesic equivalency scales. Medication aggregation from the same class (e.g., benzodiazepines) is well established; the optimal prevalence breakout for aggregation remains unclear. Validated scale(s) to combine structurally dissimilar medications (e.g., anticholinergics) should be used with caution; a lack of consensus exists regarding the optimal scale. Directed acyclic graph(s) are an accepted method to conceptualize causative frameworks when identifying potential confounders. Modeling‐based strategies should be used with evidence‐based, a priori variable‐selection strategies.CONCLUSIONAs highlighted in the SAGES cohort, the methods used to classify and analyze medication data in clinically rich cohort studies vary in the rigor by which they have been developed and validated.
Antifungal susceptibility profile and molecular identification of Cyp51C mutations in clinical and environmental isolates of Aspergillus flavus from Argentina
Authors: Hermida‐Alava Katherine , Brito Devoto Tomás , Sautua Francisco , Gordó Manuela , Scandiani Mercedes , Formento Norma , Luque Alicia , Carmona Marcelo , Cuestas María L. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe emergence of azole resistance in non‐fumigatus Aspergillus strains is on the raise.ObjectivesTo study the susceptibility profiles and the molecular mechanisms of azole resistance of environmental and clinical strains of Aspergillus flavus from Argentina.MethodsThirty‐five A flavus isolates (18 from soybean seeds and chickpea seeds and 17 from the clinic) were analysed for amphotericin B and azole resistance using the standard microbroth dilution method according to CLSI M38‐A2 guidelines. Sequencing analysis of the cyp51 genes was conducted in those isolates displaying high MICs values to itraconazole, voriconazole and/or posaconazole.ResultsAmong the environmental isolates, 33.3% of them showed high MIC values for at least one triazole whereas 23.5% of the clinical isolates displayed high MIC values for amphotericin B. Point mutations in the Cyp51C gene were recorded in most environmental isolates with non‐wild‐type MIC values.ConclusionsSusceptibility differences among environmental A flavus isolates might suggest the possibility of native resistance to certain triazole antifungals used in the clinic. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of antifungal screening of environmental strains of A flavus in soybean seeds and chickpea seeds from Argentina that showed increased resistance to voriconazole and itraconazole in comparison to clinical strains.