bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic Toupet Fundoplication for the Treatment of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux: Results at Medium‐Term follow‐Up
Authors: Aiolfi Alberto , Cavalli Marta , Saino Greta , Khor Desmond , Sozzi Andrea , Rausa Emanuele , Bonitta Gianluca , Bona Davide 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe effect of laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication (LTF) for the treatment of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of LTF for the treatment of LPR‐related symptoms and disease‐specific quality of life (QoL) up to 3‐year follow‐up.Materials and methodsObservational cohort study (2015–2019). Patients suffering from LPR were included. Preoperative evaluation included esophagogastroduodenoscopy, esophageal manometry and 24‐h pH/impedance study. Symptoms and QoL were measured with the reflux symptom index (RSI) and the laryngopharyngeal reflux–health‐related quality of life (LPR–HRQL) validate questionnaires at baseline and during follow‐up.ResultsEighty‐six patients were included. Twenty‐three (27%) patients had pure LPR while 63 (73%) presented with combined LPR/GERD. Cough (89.7%), dyspnea/choking (39.6%) and asthma (25.6%) were the most commonly reported extraesophageal symptoms. The median (interquartile range, IQR) total RSI score before operation and at 3‐month, 6‐month, 1‐year, 2‐year and 3‐year follow‐up was 36.1 (10.3), 9.58 (12.3), 11.8 (10.2), 12.4 (9.6), 12.0 (13.1) and 10.1 (12.0), respectively. The median (IQR) total LPR–HRQL score before operation and at 3‐month, 6‐month, 1‐year, 2‐year and 3‐year follow‐up was 57.4 (22.2), 13.4 (14.9), 15.2 (12.8), 11.4 (10.9) and 11.9 (13.5), respectively. The subscores “voice,” “cough,” “throat” and “swallow” showed a significant improvement after intervention. Compared to baseline, each per‐year follow‐up pairwise comparison was significantly improved (p < 0.001).ConclusionsLTF seems feasible, effective and promising for the treatment of LPR with improved symptoms and disease‐specific patients’ quality of life perception up to 3‐year follow‐up.
Evaluating standards of care in psoriatic arthritis of the QUANTUM project (qualitative initiative to improve outcomes): results of an accreditation project in Spain
Authors: García Emilio Ignacio , Guilabert Mercedes , Queiro Rubén , Carrillo Irene , Mira José Joaquín 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn Spain, the QUANTUM project has been promoted to reduce variability in clinical practice and improve the care and quality of life of people with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) by accrediting PsA units throughout the Spanish national health system. To present the results of this approach which sought to ensure an optimum level of quality for patients with PsA. Descriptive analysis of the self-assessments that the PsA units have carried out assessing their degree of compliance with the quality standards established in the QUANTUM project grouped into four blocks: shortening time to diagnosis; optimizing disease management; improving multidisciplinary collaboration; and improving patient monitoring. A total of 41 PsA units were self-evaluated. They met 64.1% of the defined quality standards. Optimize disease management obtained a higher level of standards compliance (72%) and improve multidisciplinary collaboration the lesser (63.9%). Accessibility to the treatments available for PsA in all hospitals was guaranteed (100%). Appropriate diagnostic equipment is available (97.6%). Compliance with specific quality standards leads to detect actions that should be implemented: quality of life assessment (9.8%), locomotor system assessment (12.2%), physical examination data record (14.6%), periodic cardiovascular risk assessment (17.1%). The QUANTUM project results make it possible to visualise how to care for patients with PsA is being developed in Spain. Problems identified in recent multinational reports are also identified in Spain.
Feasibility of unconstrained three-material decomposition: imaging an excised human heart using a prototype silicon photon-counting CT detector
Authors: Grönberg Fredrik , Lundberg Johan , Sjölin Martin , Persson Mats , Bujila Robert , Bornefalk Hans , Almqvist Håkan , Holmin Staffan , Danielsson Mats 
Published: June 2020

AbstractRationale and objectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of unconstrained three-material decomposition in a human tissue specimen containing iodinated contrast agent, using an experimental multi-bin photon-counting silicon detector. It was further to evaluate potential added clinical value compared to a 1st-generation state-of-the-art dual-energy computed tomography system.Materials and methodsA prototype photon-counting silicon detector in a bench-top setup for x-ray tomographic imaging was calibrated using a multi-material calibration phantom. A heart with calcified plaque was obtained from a deceased patient, and the coronary arteries were injected with an iodinated contrast agent mixed with gelatin. The heart was imaged in the experimental setup and on a 1st-generation state-of-the-art dual-energy computed tomography system. Projection-based three-material decomposition without any constraints was performed with the photon-counting detector data, and the resulting images were compared with those obtained from the dual-energy system.ResultsThe photon-counting detector images show better separation of iodine and calcium compared to the dual-energy images. Additional experiments confirmed that unbiased estimates of soft tissue, calcium, and iodine could be achieved without any constraints.ConclusionThe proposed experimental system could provide added clinical value compared to current dual-energy systems for imaging tasks where mix-up of iodine and calcium is an issue, and the anatomy is sufficiently small to allow iodine to be differentiated from calcium. Considering its previously shown count rate capability, these results show promise for future integration of this detector in a clinical CT scanner.Key Points• Spectral photon-counting detectors can solve some of the fundamental problems with conventional single-energy CT.• Dual-energy methods can be used to differentiate iodine and calcium, but to do so must rely on constraints, since solving for three unknowns with only two measurements is not possible. Photon-counting detectors can improve upon these methods by allowing unconstrained three-material decomposition.• A prototype photon-counting silicon detector with high count rate capability allows performing unconstrained three-material decomposition and qualitatively shows better differentiation of iodine and calcium than dual-energy CT.
Zusammenhang von körperlicher Aktivität mit Fatigue und Funktionskapazität bei Patienten mit rheumatoider Arthritis
Authors: Beider S. , Flohr S. , Gehlert S. , Witte T. , Ernst D. 
Published: June 2020

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
Patienten mit rheumatoider Arthritis (RA) neigen dazu, körperlich weniger aktiv zu sein. Die körperliche Aktivität wirkt sich positiv auf die Krankheitsaktivität (KA) und Lebensqualität aus und wird von der European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) als ein Teil der Standardtherapie empfohlen.

Fragestellung
Eine Querschnittanalyse der RA-Patienten wurde in Bezug auf die KA, die Funktionskapazität (FK) und Fatigue im Zusammenhang mit der körperlichen Aktivität durchgeführt.

Material und Methoden
Die körperliche Aktivität, die FK und der globale Fatigue-Index (Global Fatigue Index [GFI]) wurden mittels standardisierter Fragebögen ermittelt: International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form (IPAQ-SF), Funktionsfragebogen Hannover (FFbH) und Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF). Die Daten wurden mittels SPSS Version 26 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA) ausgewertet. Die Signifikanzprüfung erfolgte mittels bivariater und partieller Korrelation und nichtparametrischer Tests.

Ergebnisse
Insgesamt wurden 164 Patienten in die Untersuchung eingeschlossen. Die Mehrheit der Patienten war weiblich (127/164; 77 %), das Durchschnittsalter der Kohorte betrug 58,3 (21 bis 86) Jahre. Die durchschnittliche Dauer der krankheitsrelevanten Symptome war 169 (0 bis 713) Monate; 39 % der Patienten zeigten eine niedrige, 37 % eine moderate und 24 % eine hohe körperliche Aktivität. Patienten mit hoher körperlicher Aktivität wiesen die niedrigsten Werte des GFI (p < 0,001), eine unbeeinträchtigte FK (p < 0,001) und die niedrigste KA (p = 0,045) auf.

Schlussfolgerungen
Ein signifikanter Zusammenhang der körperlichen Aktivität mit der Funktionskapazität und der Ausprägung der Fatigue bei RA-Patienten wurde nachgewiesen. Um den Anteil der Patienten mit niedriger körperlicher Aktivität zu senken, sollten die Möglichkeiten des Funktionstrainings ausgeschöpft und die Patienten zu sportlichen Aktivitäten motiviert werden.
Serum choline in extremely preterm infants declines with increasing parenteral nutrition
Authors: Nilsson Anders K. , Pedersen Anders , Malmodin Daniel , Lund Anna-My , Hellgren Gunnel , Löfqvist Chatarina , Pupp Ingrid Hansen , Hellström Ann 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Purpose
Choline is an essential nutrient for fetal and infant growth and development. Parenteral nutrition used in neonatal care lack free choline but contain small amounts of lipid-bound choline in the form of phosphatidylcholine (PC). Here, we examined the longitudinal development of serum free choline and metabolically related compounds betaine and methionine in extremely preterm infants and how the concentrations were affected by the proportion of parenteral fluids the infants received during the first 28 postnatal days (PNDs).

Methods
This prospective study included 87 infants born at gestational age (GA) < 28 weeks. Infant serum samples were collected PND 1, 7, 14, and 28, and at postmenstrual age (PMA) 32, 36, and 40 weeks. The serum concentrations of free choline, betaine, and methionine were determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy.

Results
The median (25th–75th percentile) serum concentrations of free choline, betaine, and methionine were 33.7 (26.2–41.2), 71.2 (53.2–100.8), and 25.6 (16.4–35.3) µM, respectively, at PND 1. The choline concentration decreased rapidly between PND one and PND seven [18.4 (14.1–26.4) µM], and then increased over the next 90 days, though never reaching PND one levels. There was a negative correlation between a high intake of parenteral fluids and serum-free choline.

Conclusion
Circulating free choline in extremely preterm infants is negatively affected by the proportion of parenteral fluids administered.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02760472, April 29, 2016, retrospectively registered.
Cerebrospinal fluid levels of GFAP and pNF-H are elevated in patients with chronic spinal cord injury and neurological deterioration
Authors: Holmström Ulrika , Tsitsopoulos Parmenion P. , Holtz Anders , Salci Konstantin , Shaw Gerry , Mondello Stefania , Marklund Niklas 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundYears after a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), a subset of patients may develop progressive clinical deterioration due to intradural scar formation and spinal cord tethering, with or without an associated syringomyelia. Meningitis, intradural hemorrhages, or intradural tumor surgery may also trigger glial scar formation and spinal cord tethering, leading to neurological worsening. Surgery is the treatment of choice in these chronic SCI patients.ObjectiveWe hypothesized that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma biomarkers could track ongoing neuronal loss and scar formation in patients with spinal cord tethering and are associated with clinical symptoms.MethodsWe prospectively enrolled 12 patients with spinal cord tethering and measured glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), and phosphorylated Neurofilament-heavy (pNF-H) in CSF and blood. Seven patients with benign lumbar intradural tumors and 7 patients with cervical radiculopathy without spinal cord involvement served as controls.ResultsAll evaluated biomarker levels were markedly higher in CSF than in plasma, without any correlation between the two compartments. When compared with radiculopathy controls, CSF GFAP and pNF-H levels were higher in patients with spinal cord tethering (p ≤ 0.05). In contrast, CSF UCH-L1 levels were not altered in chronic SCI patients when compared with either control groups.ConclusionsThe present findings suggest that in patients with spinal cord tethering, CSF GFAP and pNF-H levels might reflect ongoing scar formation and neuronal injury potentially responsible for progressive neurological deterioration.
Robust Position/Force Control of Constrained Flexible Joint Robots with Constraint Uncertainties
Authors: Baspinar Cumhur 
Published: June 2020

AbstractA novel robust control method for simultaneous position/force control of constrained flexible joint robots is proposed. The facts that the uncertainties make the usual control task unsolvable and that the equations of the controlled system are differential-algebraic make the problem dealt with considerably demanding. In order to overcome the unsolvability problem due to the constraint uncertainties the position control task is redefined in a practical way such that only a suitable subgroup of the link positions are driven to their desired trajectories. To determine the elements of the subgroup a simple algorithm of practical relevance is proposed. Under certain smoothness conditions to the contact surfaces, it is demonstrated that the position control problem can dynamically be isolated from the force control. Thus, it becomes possible to handle the position and force control tasks separately. The most significant advantage of the separation of the position and force control tasks is that it makes possible to adapt the position control methods known from free robots. Each joint is used in either position control or force control. The proposed position controller has a cascaded structure: First, trajectories for joint positions that drive the link positions to their desired values are calculated. Then, the joint torques that drive the joint positions to their calculated values are determined. A further significant benefit of the separation of the position and force control tasks arises in the force control such that the transformed equations are linear and any linear robust control approach can be used for the force control. The whole controller requires the measurement of the link and joint positions, the link and joint velocities and the contact forces, and allows modeling uncertainties in the equations of both the robot dynamics and the contact surfaces. The proposed control method is also confirmed by simulations.
Differences and Similarities between Perpetrators of Ethnic and Non-Ethnicity-Based Victimization
Authors: Bayram Özdemir Sevgi , Giles Clover , Özdemir Metin 
Published: June 2020

AbstractImmigrant and minority youth are at risk of ethnic victimization. Despite an increasing number of studies that aim to understand the consequences of such negativity, relatively little attention has been paid to understanding who the perpetrators of ethnic victimization are. To address this gap in knowledge, the present study examined whether youth who victimize their peers due to their ethnic background are also those who engage in non-ethnicity-based victimization. The study also investigated the underlying factors, i.e., impulsivity, empathy, moral disengagement, and attitudes toward immigrants, that are common or specific to groups of youth. The sample included 949 adolescents residing in Sweden (Mage = 13.11, SD = 0.41; range: 12–15; 46% girls). Cluster analysis revealed four distinct groups of adolescents, based on their reports of ethnic and non-ethnicity-based victimization: (1) low on both forms of victimization, (2) high on ethnic victimization only, (3) high on non-ethnicity-based victimization only, and (4) high on both forms of victimization. The results showed that being morally disengaged is a common denominator of ethnic and non-ethnicity-based victimizers. Difficulties in regulating impulses and lack of perspective-taking skills trigger youth’s engagement in non-ethnicity-based victimization. Lack of empathic concerns and low levels of positive attitudes toward immigrants are the bases of ethnic victimization. Together, these findings suggest that the precursors of ethnic and non-ethnicity-based victimization have similarities as well as differences, which require further attention in developing programs aimed at preventing different forms of peer victimization.
A crustal scarcity indicator for long-term global elemental resource assessment in LCA
Authors: Arvidsson Rickard , Söderman Maria Ljunggren , Sandén Björn A. , Nordelöf Anders , André Hampus , Tillman Anne-Marie 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Purpose
How to assess impacts of mineral resources is much discussed in life cycle assessment (LCA). We see a need for, and a lack of, a mineral resource impact assessment method that captures the perspective of long-term global scarcity of elements.

Method
A midpoint-level mineral resource impact assessment method matching this perspective is proposed, called the crustal scarcity indicator (CSI), with characterization factors called crustal scarcity potentials (CSPs) measured as kg silicon equivalents per kg element. They are based on crustal concentrations, which have been suggested to correlate with several important resource metrics (reserves, reserve base, reserves plus cumulative production, and ore deposits), thereby constituting proxies for long-term global elemental scarcity.

Results and discussion
Ready-to-use CSPs are provided for 76 elements, through which the CSI can be calculated by multiplying with the respective masses of elements extracted from Earth’s crust for a certain product. As follows from their crustal concentrations, the three platinum-group metals iridium, osmium, and rhodium have the highest CSPs, whereas silicon, aluminum, and iron have the lowest CSPs.

Conclusion
An evaluation of the CSPs and the characterization factors of four other mineral resource impact assessment methods in LCA (the abiotic depletion, the surplus ore, the cumulative exergy demand, and the EPS methods) were conducted. It showed that the CSPs are temporally reliable, calculated in a consistent way, and have a high coverage of elements in comparison. Furthermore, a quantitative comparison with the characterization factors of the four other methods showed that the CSPs reflect long-term global elemental scarcity comparatively well while requiring a minimum of assumptions and input parameters.

Recommendations
We recommend using the CSI for assessments of long-term global elemental scarcity in LCA. Since the CSI is at the midpoint level, it can be complemented by other mineral resource impact assessment methods (both existing and to be developed) to provide a more comprehensive view of mineral resource impacts in an LCA.
Dynamics of thin disk settling in two-layered fluid with density transition
Authors: Mrokowska Magdalena M. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractSettling of solid particles in a stratified ambient fluid is a process widely encountered in geophysical flows. A set of experiments demonstrating the settling behaviour (the pattern of trajectory, variation of particle orientation, and settling velocity with depth) of thin disks descending through a nonlinear density transition was performed. The results showed complex hydrodynamic interactions between a particle and a liquid causing settling orientation instabilities and unsteady particle descent in low to moderate Reynolds number regime. Five phases of settling were observed: two phases with stable horizontal, one with stable vertical disk position, and two reorientation phases; moreover, two local minima of settling velocity were identified. It was demonstrated that thresholds for local minima and the first reorientation depend on the settling dynamics in an upper layer, stratification conditions, and disk geometry. The comparison of settling behaviour of thin disks varying in diameter revealed that settling dynamics is sensitive to particle geometry mainly in the upper part of density transition with a non-obvious result that the first minimum velocity is smaller for a disk with a larger diameter than for a disk with a smaller diameter. The analysis of settling trajectory showed that two reorientations are accompanied with a horizontal drift, which may be important in the context of interactions between particles settling in a group.
Online sexual deviance, pornography and child sexual exploitation material
Authors: Quayle Ethel 
Published: June 2020

AbstractDefinitions of sexual deviance have changed over time and the more recent use of paraphilia and paraphilic disorder in the development of DSM‑5 has been met with criticism. The larger context of this discussion lies in the use of sexually explicit media (SEM), whether this can be seen as normative rather than deviant, and its relationship with sexual violence. The use of sexual media depicting children (CSEM) has been seen as a good diagnostic indicator of paedophilia, but clearly not all people who possess CSEM can be classified as paedophiles. However, possession and trading of CSEM may provide evidence of specific sexual interests and there is some evidence to suggest that there may be a potential homology between CSEM possession, victim selection and offending behaviour. The article explores how sexual interest in children is evidenced and the challenges in understanding the prevalence of these activities both in the community as well as forensic and clinical samples.
The legality of the citizenship deprivation of UK foreign terrorist fighters
Authors: Arnell Paul 
Published: June 2020

AbstractCitizenship deprivation of foreign terrorist fighters by the United Kingdom is increasing. This is of debatable legality under international law on five separate grounds. First, the UK is arguably wrong in claiming that an extraterritorial deprivation is outside the jurisdiction of the ECHR. Second, UK law may be unlawfully arbitrary and discriminatory. Third, UK law arguably contravenes the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness 1961. Fourth, the UK may be violating its customary international legal obligation to readmit nationals. Fifth, UK practice may breach its conventional extradite or prosecute obligations. Overall, there are arguments of considerable strength that can be made in opposition to UK law and practice in the area.
Human enamel 87Sr/86Sr evidence of migration and land use patterns at Tell Brak, a Late Chalcolithic urban centre in NE Syria
Authors: Sołtysiak Arkadiusz 
Published: June 2020

AbstractDuring the Late Chalcolithic 3/4 (c. 3900–3200 BCE), Tell Brak in NE Syria became a large urban centre with central administration, craft specialization and a settlement size of at least 130 ha. 87Sr/86Sr values in enamel of 34 human individuals from Tell Brak representing four temporal subsets were measured and compared against the local background to understand the pattern of migrations and origin of food consumed by inhabitants of the city. The rate of migration from areas with different 87Sr/86Sr background values was constantly low, and there is no evidence of long-distance mobility. Decrease of average 87Sr/86Sr values with time was paralleled by their higher dispersal. Finally, in the last subset representing the end of first urbanization period data are again less variable. All this indicates a rise in spatial heterogeneity of resources to feed the growing population of the expanding city, which was likely caused by a gradual extension of land used for food production.