bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nanoporous chromium thin film for active detection of toxic heavy metals traces using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Ahmed Ashour M , Shaban Mohamed 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
In this work, nanoporous Cr thin film was designed by a novel method for the detection of toxic heavy metals based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Nanoporous Cr thin film has been deposited on an aluminum substrate through a developed etching/DC electrodeposition technique of the hexagonal porous anodic alumina (PAA) template/Cr nanoparticles, respectively. The structures and morphologies of the fabricated samples were investigated by different characterization tools. The FE-SEM illustrates nanoporous Cr particles of rough surfaces and different sizes are formed on the Al substrate. Also, there are ultrafine Cr nanoparticles covered the surface of the Cr nanoporous film that can act as hot-spots during the detection of heavy metal ions. The proposed sensor established high selectivity at low concentrations between different heavy metal ions (Pb2+, Hg2+, Cd2+). Also, it showed excellent selectivity towards Pb2+ over the other metal ions. Hence, this category of sensors could be applied for sensitive determining of Pb2+, Hg2+, Cd2+ in contaminated water.
A prediction model for one- and three-year mortality in dementia: results from a nationwide hospital-based cohort of 50,993 patients in the Netherlands
Authors: van de Vorst Irene E , Golüke Nienke M S , Vaartjes Ilonca , Bots Michiel L , Koek Huiberdina L 
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Objective
to develop a model to predict one- and three-year mortality in patients with dementia attending a hospital, through hospital admission or day/memory clinic.

Design
we constructed a cohort of dementia patients through data linkage of three Dutch national registers: the hospital discharge register (HDR), the population register and the national cause of death register.

Subjects
patients with dementia in the HDR aged between 60 and 100 years registered between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2010.

Methods
logistic regression analysis techniques were used to predict one- and three-year mortality after a first hospitalisation with dementia. The performance was assessed using the c-statistic and the Hosmer–Lemeshow test. Internal validation was performed using bootstrap resampling.

Results
50,993 patients were included in the cohort. Two models were constructed, which included age, sex, setting of care (hospitalised versus day clinic) and the presence of comorbidity using the Charlson comorbidity index. One model predicted one-year mortality and the other three-year mortality. Model discrimination according to the c-statistic for the models was 0.71 (95% CI 0.71–0.72) and 0.72 (95% CI 0.72–0.73), respectively.

Conclusion
both models display acceptable ability to predict mortality. An important advantage is that they are easy to apply in daily practise and thus are helpful for individual decision-making regarding diagnostic/therapeutic interventions and advance care planning.
Political Theology and the Metamorphoses of The King’s Two BodiesThe King’s Two Bodies: A Study in Mediaeval Political Theology, by Ernst H. Kantorowicz
Authors: Edward Whalen Brett 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
As is well known, Ernst H. Kantorowicz’s groundbreaking 1957 study The King’s Two Bodies: A Study in Mediaeval Political Theology explored the “dual nature” of the king’s body in medieval and early modern religious and political thought, tracing the evolution of an idea that would ultimately underwrite the “myth of the State,” namely, that the king possessed a mortal, transitory body, but also a supranatural one that never died. Readers greeted The King’s Two Bodies as an exceptional contribution to medieval studies immediately upon its publication. As Whalen relates, however, a growing awareness of where the book fits into the trajectory of Kantorowicz’s life and early career in 1920s and 1930s Germany has reshaped scholarly analyses of his famous work. Increasing numbers of scholars now interpret Kantorowicz’s study of medieval political theology as a response and oblique challenge to contemporary theories about the theological origins of modern sovereignty, including the work of Carl Schmitt. As Whalen also suggests, in recent years, the so-called return of religion to the public sphere and ongoing debates about the validity of the “secularization” narrative, positing the transference of religious concepts to secular politics in the modern age, has inspired further rounds of critical interest in The King’s Two Bodies. Now over sixty years old, Kantorowicz’s book seems as important and vital as ever, experiencing transformations in its reception that few could have imagined when it first appeared in print.
Association Between Use of Preoperative Antihypertensive Medication and 90-Day Mortality After Noncardiac Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Im Chami , Oh Tak Kyu , Song In-Ae 
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Background
This study aimed to determine whether use of preoperative antihypertensive medication is associated with postoperative 90-day mortality in the hypertensive adult population that underwent elective noncardiac surgery.

Methods
In this retrospective cohort study, medical records of preoperative hypertensive patients who underwent noncardiac surgery at a single tertiary academic hospital from 2012 to 2018 were reviewed. Among the hypertensive patients, those prescribed to take antihypertensive medication continuously for more than 1 month before admission were defined as the HTN MED group; others were defined as the non-HTN MED group. Multiple imputation, propensity score (PS) matching, and logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis.

Results
Overall, 35,589 preoperative hypertensive adult patients (HTN MED group: 26,154 patients, non-HTN MED group: 9,435 patients) were included in the analysis. After PS matching, each group comprised 6,205 patients; thus, 12,410 patients were included in the final analysis. The odds for 90-day mortality of the HTN MED group in the PS-matched cohort were 41% lower (odds ratio: 0.59, 95% confidence interval: 0.41–0.85; P = 0.005) than those of the non-HTN MED group. Comparable results were obtained in the multivariable logistic regression analysis of the entire cohort (odds ratio: 0.54, 95% confidence interval: 0.41–0.72; P &lt; 0.001).

Conclusions
This study showed that the use of preoperative antihypertensive medication was associated with lower 90-day mortality among hypertensive patients who underwent noncardiac surgery. Therefore, preoperative screening and treatment with appropriate antihypertensive medication are important for hypertensive patients.
Meta-Prism: Ultra-fast and highly accurate microbial community structure search utilizing dual indexing and parallel computation
Authors: Zhu Mo , Kang Kai , Ning Kang 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Microbiome samples are accumulating at an unprecedented speed. As a result, a massive amount of samples have become available for the mining of the intrinsic patterns among them. However, due to the lack of advanced computational tools, fast yet accurate comparisons and searches among thousands to millions of samples are still in urgent need. In this work, we proposed the Meta-Prism method for comparing and searching the microbial community structures amongst tens of thousands of samples. Meta-Prism is at least 10 times faster than contemporary methods serving the same purpose and can provide very accurate search results. The method is based on three computational techniques: dual-indexing approach for sample subgrouping, refined scoring function that could scrutinize the minute differences among samples, and parallel computation on CPU or GPU. The superiority of Meta-Prism on speed and accuracy for multiple sample searches is proven based on searching against ten thousand samples derived from both human and environments. Therefore, Meta-Prism could facilitate similarity search and in-depth understanding among massive number of heterogenous samples in the microbiome universe. The codes of Meta-Prism are available at: https://github.com/HUST-NingKang-Lab/metaPrism.
Blue light attracts nocturnally migrating birds
Authors: Zhao Xuebing , Zhang Min , Che Xianli , Zou Fasheng 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Light pollution is increasing and artificial light sources have great impacts on animals. For migrating birds, collisions caused by artificial light pollution are a significant source of mortality. Laboratory studies have demonstrated that birds have different visual sensitivities to different colors of light, but few field experiments have compared birds’ responses to light of different wavelengths. We used 3 monochromatic lights (red, green, and blue) and polychromatic yellow light to study the impact of wavelength on phototaxis at 2 gathering sites of nocturnally migrating birds in Southwest China. For both sites, short-wavelength blue light caused the strongest phototactic response. In contrast, birds were rarely attracted to long-wavelength red light. The attractive effect of blue light was greatest during nights with fog and headwinds. As rapid urbanization and industrialization cause an increase in artificial light, we suggest that switching to longer wavelength lights is a convenient and economically effective way to reduce bird collisions.
The Copper/Zinc Ratio Correlates With Markers of Disease Activity in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Schneider Tobias , Caviezel Daniel , Ayata C Korcan , Kiss Caroline , Niess Jan Hendrik , Hruz Petr 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundZinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are trace elements that serve as cofactors in catalytic processes with impact on immune responses. In patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), decreased levels of serum Zn and Cu have been observed. Here, we investigated the effect of inflammation on serum concentrations of these trace elements in patients with IBD.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 98 patients with Crohn disease (CD) and 56 with ulcerative colitis (UC) were prospectively enrolled. Disease activity parameters, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and fecal calprotectin (FC) were compared to serum Zn, Cu, and Cu/Zn ratio.ResultsZinc insufficiency was observed in 11.2% of patients with CD and 14.3% with UC, Cu insufficiency in 20.4% with CD and 7.1% with UC. Anemia, hypoalbuminemia, increased FC, and elevated CRP were more frequently present in Zn-insufficient patients with IBD. In contrast, lower serum CRP values and a trend to lower FC were observed in Cu-insufficient patients. In multiple linear regression models adjusted for age, gender, and serum albumin, CRP positively correlated with serum Cu (P &lt; 0.001) and the Cu/Zn ratio in both CD and UC (P &lt; 0.001) but not with serum Zn concentrations. FC levels correlated only with the Cu/Zn ratio in patients with UC (P &lt; 0.038).ConclusionSystemic inflammation inversely affected the serum Zn and Cu concentrations and, consequently, resulted in an increased Cu/Zn ratio.
Sex differences in non-obstructive coronary artery disease
Authors: Waheed Nida , Elias-Smale Suzette , Malas Waddah , Maas Angela H , Sedlak Tara L , Tremmel Jennifer , Mehta Puja K 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Ischaemic heart disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in both women and men. Compared with men, symptomatic women who are suspected of having myocardial ischaemia are more likely to have no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) on coronary angiography. Coronary vasomotor disorders and coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) have been increasingly recognized as important contributors to angina and adverse outcomes in patients with no obstructive CAD. CMD from functional and structural abnormalities in the microvasculature is associated with adverse cardiac events and mortality in both sexes. Women may be particularly susceptible to vasomotor disorders and CMD due to unique factors such as inflammation, mental stress, autonomic, and neuroendocrine dysfunction, which predispose to endothelial dysfunction and CMD. CMD can be detected with coronary reactivity testing and non-invasive imaging modalities; however, it remains underdiagnosed. This review focuses on sex differences in presentation, pathophysiologic risk factors, diagnostic testing, and prognosis of CMD.
Room for improvement: initiation of lipid-lowering treatment and achievement of lipid target levels—a Danish registry-based study
Authors: Rerup Sofie A , Rørth Rasmus , Bang Lia E , Mogensen Ulrik M , Torp-Pedersen Christian , Gislason Gunnar , Køber Lars , Fosbøl Emil L 
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Aims
Prevention of adverse outcomes in individuals with high cholesterol levels may be improved by intensified lipid-lowering treatment (LLT). We studied whether treatment goals of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were reached within 1 year from baseline (defined as first LDL-C measurement) in a Danish population.

Methods and results
Danish registries were used to identify all persons in the Northern Region of Denmark who had LDL-C measured between 1997 and 2012 and who were naïve to LLT. Patients were categorized in LDL-C &lt;5 or ≥5 mmol/L and further subdivided into low, high, and very high predicted cardiovascular (CV) risk as suggested by European guidelines for risk stratification. Initiation of LLT and lipid target levels were assessed after 1 year (3.0, 2.5, and 1.8 mmol/L, respectively). In this study, we examined the intensity of LLT and whether treatment goals were reached. More patients with LDL-C ≥5 mmol/L, regardless of the CV risk, initiated LLT compared with patients who had a very high CV risk and LDL-C &lt;5 mmol/L. In total, 37.7% (n = 32 581) of all patients with a follow-up LDL-C, and 25.1% (n = 3229) of patients with LDL-C ≥5 mmol/L, had achieved their target levels after 1 year. Only 45.2% (n = 4545) of the LDL-C ≥5 mmol/L high-risk patients with a follow-up LDL-C had started LLT 12 months after baseline.

Conclusion
Less than half of patients presenting with an LDL-C ≥5 mmol/L start LLT within 1 year, representing a missed opportunity for both primary and secondary prevention of CV disease.
Rapid rule out for suspected myocardial infarction: is the algorithm appropriate for all?
Authors: Marcusohn Erez , Epstein Danny , Roguin Ariel , Zukermann Robert 
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Aims
Patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with cardiac chest pain and high-sensitive troponin I (HsTnI) less than 5 ng/L have very good prognosis and low risk for major adverse cardiovascular events. The 2015 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI)/acute coronary syndrome (ACS) suggests that patients with normal high-sensitive troponin, which are free of chest pain and have a global registry of acute coronary events (GRACE) score less than 140 are eligible for discharge from the hospital for outpatient workup. Our hypothesis suggests that not all patients with GRACE score under 140 should be discharged for ambulatory tests even with undetectable HsTnI as recommended in the guidelines.

Methods and results
Population-based retrospective cohort study in a large tertiary care centre. The study population included all patients discharged from the hospital between 1 February 2016 and 28 February 2019 following rule out of MI. During the study period, a total of 13 800 patients were discharged from the hospital after rule out of MI. Among them, 9236 (67%) had HsTnI below 5 ng/L. A total of 7705 patients (83%) met the criteria for low (n = 7162) or moderate (n = 543) GRACE risk score. Moderate-risk patients had significantly more adverse events than low-risk patients (4.6% vs. 2.1%, P &lt; 0.001). They are in higher risk of death (0.5% vs. 0.1%, P = 0.042), revascularization (3.9% vs. 1.8%, P = 0.0047), and readmission due to ACS (1.1% vs. 0.4%, P = 0.031).

Conclusion
Patients presenting to the ED with chest pain and HsTnI less than 5 ng/L and GRACE score under 140 have 2–4% adverse event in 60 days. The differences between the groups suggest using rapid rule out algorithms for only low-risk patients with GRACE score under 73.
Stability of occlusal outcome during long-term retention: the time-dependent variation of the American Board of Orthodontics index
Authors: Angst Christine , Eliades Theodore , Papageorgiou Spyridon N 
Published: January 2020

Summary

Background
The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to assess long-term occlusal changes at debond and a median of 8 years afterwards (in retention) with the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) objective grading system and identify risk factors.

Materials and method
Fifty patients (median age: 14.3 years at debond; 60% female) treated with fixed appliances (25 with and 25 without premolar extractions) were included. The occlusal outcome was assessed with the ABO tool and analyzed statistically at 5%.

Results
Extraction treatment was associated with better occlusal outcome than non-extraction treatment (34.2 versus 40.9 points; P = 0.009). In retention, ABO scores improved by 7.4 points, while patients with worse debond finishing improved more afterwards (P = 0.001). Alignment/rotations deteriorated in 58% of the cases and occlusal relationships in 38% of the cases. Marginal ridges improved more for extraction than non-extraction patients (28% versus 0%; P = 0.001). Occlusal relationships improved more for cases that ‘passed’ the ABO requirements at debond than failed cases (64% versus 28%; P = 0.02). Furthermore, patients with worse debond ABO scores were more likely to deteriorate at alignment/rotations in retention. Finally, the proportion of cases passing the ABO requirements improved considerably between debond (28%) and in retention (54%) as half (47%) of the cases that had failed the ABO requirements at debond passed them in retention.

Conclusions
Considerable long-term occlusal changes are seen post-debond, which mostly favour improved settling. Extraction treatment and higher finishing quality at debond significantly influenced the chance for improvement. However, setting a cut-off score to denote treatment excellence showed considerable instability through time.
Classification, prevalence, and outcomes of anticancer therapy-induced cardiotoxicity: the CARDIOTOX registry
Authors: López-Sendón José , Álvarez-Ortega Carlos , Zamora Auñon Pilar , Buño Soto Antonio , Lyon Alexander R , Farmakis Dimitrios , Cardinale Daniela , Canales Albendea Miguel , Feliu Batlle Jaime , Rodríguez Rodríguez Isabel , Rodríguez Fraga Olaia , Albaladejo Ainara , Mediavilla Guiomar , González-Juanatey Jose Ramón , Martínez Monzonis Amparo , Gómez Prieto Pilar , González-Costello José , Serrano Antolín José María , Cadenas Chamorro Rosalía , López Fernández Teresa 
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Aim
Cardiotoxicity (CTox) is a major side effect of cancer therapies, but uniform diagnostic criteria to guide clinical and research practices are lacking.

Methods and results
We prospectively studied 865 patients, aged 54.7 ± 13.9; 16.3% men, scheduled for anticancer therapy related with moderate/high CTox risk. Four groups of progressive myocardial damage/dysfunction were considered according to current guidelines: normal, normal biomarkers (high-sensitivity troponin T and N-terminal natriuretic pro-peptide), and left ventricular (LV) function; mild, abnormal biomarkers, and/or LV dysfunction (LVD) maintaining an LV ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50%; moderate, LVD with LVEF 40–49%; and severe, LVD with LVEF ≤40% or symptomatic heart failure. Cardiotoxicity was defined as new or worsening of myocardial damage/ventricular function from baseline during follow-up. Patients were followed for a median of 24 months. Cardiotoxicity was identified in 37.5% patients during follow-up [95% confidence interval (CI) 34.22–40.8%], 31.6% with mild, 2.8% moderate, and 3.1% with severe myocardial damage/dysfunction. The mortality rate in the severe CTox group was 22.9 deaths per 100 patients-year vs. 2.3 deaths per 100 patients-year in the rest of groups, hazard ratio of 10.2 (95% CI 5.5–19.2) (P &lt; 0.001).

Conclusions
The majority of patients present objective data of myocardial injury/dysfunction during or after cancer therapy. Nevertheless, severe CTox, with a strong prognostic relationship, was comparatively rare. This should be reflected in protocols for clinical and research practices.
A study of the monsoonal hydrology contribution using a 8-yr record (2010–2018) from superconducting gravimeter OSG-060 at Djougou (Benin, West Africa)
Authors: Hinderer J , Hector B , Riccardi U , Rosat S , Boy J-P , Calvo M , Littel F , Bernard J-D 
Published: January 2020

SUMMARY
We analyse a nearly 8-yr record (2010–2018) of the superconducting gravimeter OSG-060 located at Djougou (Benin, West Africa). After tidal analysis removing all solid Earth and ocean loading tidal contributions and correcting for the long-term instrumental drift and atmospheric loading, we obtain a gravity residual signal which is essentially a hydrological signal due to the monsoon. This signal is first compared to several global hydrology models (ERA, GLDAS and MERRA). Our superconducting gravimeter residual signal is also superimposed onto episodic absolute gravity measurements and to space gravimetry GRACE data. A further comparison is done using local hydrological data like soil moisture in the very superficial layer (0–1.2 m), water table depth and rainfall. The temporal evolution of the correlation coefficient between the gravity observation and both the soil moisture and the water table is well explained by the direct infiltration process of rain water together with the lateral transfer discharging the water table.
Finally, we compute the water storage changes (WSC) using a simulation based on the physically based Parflow-CLM numerical model of the catchment, which solves the water and energy budget from the impermeable bedrock to the top of the canopy layer using the 3-D Richards equation for the water transfers in the ground, the kinematic wave equation for the surface runoff and a land surface model (CLM) for the energy budget and evapotranspiration calculation.
This model forced by rain is in agreement with evapotranspiration and stream flow data and leads to simulated water storage changes that nicely fit to the observed gravity signal. This study points out the important role played by surface gravity changes in terms of a reliable proxy for water storage changes occurring in small catchments.