bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Molecular environments of the supernova remnant G359.1−0.5
Authors: Eppens L K , Reynoso E M , Lazendic-Galloway J , Combi J A , Albacete-Colombo J F 
Published: February 2020

ABSTRACT
We report new CO observations and a detailed molecular-line study of the mixed morphology supernova remnant G359.1−0.5, which contains six OH (1720 MHz) masers along the radio shell, indicative of shock-cloud interaction. Observations of 12CO and 13CO J:1–0 lines were performed in a ∼38 × 38 arcmin area with the on-the-fly technique using the Kit Peak 12 Meter telescope. The molecular study has revealed the existence of a few clumps with densities ∼103 cm−3 compatible in velocity and position with the OH (1720 MHz) masers. These clumps, in turn, appear to be part of a larger, elongated molecular structure ∼34 arcmin long extending between −12.48 and +1.83 km s−1, adjacent to the western edge of the radio shell. According to the densities and relative position with respect to the masers, we conclude that the CO clouds depict unshocked gas, as observed in other remnants with OH (1720 MHz) masers. In addition, we investigated the distribution of the molecular gas towards the adjacent γ-ray source HESS J1745-303 (Aharonian et al. 2006) but could not find any morphological correlation between the γ-rays and the CO emission at any velocity in this region.
Reionization history constraints from neural network based predictions of high-redshift quasar continua
Authors: Ďurovčíková Dominika , Katz Harley , Bosman Sarah E I , Davies Frederick B , Devriendt Julien , Slyz Adrianne 
Published: February 2020

ABSTRACT
Observations of the early Universe suggest that reionization was complete by z ∼ 6, however, the exact history of this process is still unknown. One method for measuring the evolution of the neutral fraction throughout this epoch is via observing the Lyα damping wings of high-redshift quasars. In order to constrain the neutral fraction from quasar observations, one needs an accurate model of the quasar spectrum around Lyα, after the spectrum has been processed by its host galaxy but before it is altered by absorption and damping in the intervening intergalactic medium (IGM). In this paper, we present a novel machine learning approach, using artificial neural networks, to reconstruct quasar continua around Lyα. Our Quasar Spectra from Artificial Neural Network based predictive Regression Algorithm(QSANNdRA) improves the error in this reconstruction compared to the state-of-the-art principal component analysis (PCA) based model in the literature by 14.2 per cent on average, and provides an improvement of 6.1 per cent on average when compared to an extension thereof. In comparison with the extended PCA model, QSANNdRA further achieves an improvement of 22.1 per cent and 16.8 per cent when evaluated on low-redshift quasars most similar to the two high-redshift quasars under consideration, ULAS J1120+0641 at z = 7.0851 and ULAS J1342+0928 at z = 7.5413, respectively. Using our more accurate reconstructions of these two z &gt; 7 quasars, we estimate the neutral fraction of the IGM using a homogeneous reionization model and find $\bar{x}_\mathrm{H\, \small{I}} = 0.25^{+0.05}_{-0.05}$ at z = 7.0851 and $\bar{x}_\mathrm{H\, \small{I}} = 0.60^{+0.11}_{-0.11}$ at z = 7.5413. Our results are consistent with the literature and favour a rapid end to reionization.
Lifting the dust veil from the globular cluster Palomar 2
Authors: Bonatto Charles , Chies-Santos Ana L 
Published: February 2020

ABSTRACT
This work employs high-quality Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) F606W and F814W photometry to correct for the differential reddening affecting the colour–magnitude diagram (CMD) of the poorly studied globular cluster (GC) Palomar 2. Differential reddening is taken into account by assuming that morphological differences among CMDs extracted across the field of view of Palomar 2 correspond essentially to shifts (quantified in terms of δE(B − V)) along the reddening vector due to a non-uniform dust distribution. The average reddening difference over all partial CMDs is $\overline{{\delta E(B-V)}}=0.24\pm 0.08$, with the highest reaching δE(B − V) = 0.52. The corrected CMD displays well-defined and relatively narrow evolutionary sequences, especially for the evolved stars, i.e. the red giant, horizontal, and asymptotic giant branches (RGB, HB, and AGB, respectively). The average width of the upper main sequence and RGB profiles of the corrected CMD corresponds to 56 per cent of the original one. Parameters measured on this CMD show that Palomar 2 is ≈13.25 Gyr old, has the mass $M\sim 1.4\times 10^5\, \rm {\mathrm{ M}_\odot}$ stored in stars, is affected by the foreground E(B − V) ≈ 0.93, is located at d⊙ ≈ 26 kpc from the Sun, and is characterized by the global metallicity Z/Z⊙ ≈ 0.03, which corresponds to the range −1.9 ≤ [Fe/H] ≤ −1.6 (for 0.0 ≤ [α/Fe] ≤ +0.4), quite consistent with other outer halo GCs. Additional parameters are the absolute magnitude MV ≈ −7.8, and the core and half-light radii rC ≈ 2.6 pc and RHL ≈ 4.7 pc, respectively.
Machine learning of reverse transcription signatures of variegated polymerases allows mapping and discrimination of methylated purines in limited transcriptomes
Authors: Werner Stephan , Schmidt Lukas , Marchand Virginie , Kemmer Thomas , Falschlunger Christoph , Sednev Maksim V , Bec Guillaume , Ennifar Eric , Höbartner Claudia , Micura Ronald , Motorin Yuri , Hildebrandt Andreas , Helm Mark 
Published: February 2020

AbstractReverse transcription (RT) of RNA templates containing RNA modifications leads to synthesis of cDNA containing information on the modification in the form of misincorporation, arrest, or nucleotide skipping events. A compilation of such events from multiple cDNAs represents an RT-signature that is typical for a given modification, but, as we show here, depends also on the reverse transcriptase enzyme. A comparison of 13 different enzymes revealed a range of RT-signatures, with individual enzymes exhibiting average arrest rates between 20 and 75%, as well as average misincorporation rates between 30 and 75% in the read-through cDNA. Using RT-signatures from individual enzymes to train a random forest model as a machine learning regimen for prediction of modifications, we found strongly variegated success rates for the prediction of methylated purines, as exemplified with N1-methyladenosine (m1A). Among the 13 enzymes, a correlation was found between read length, misincorporation, and prediction success. Inversely, low average read length was correlated to high arrest rate and lower prediction success. The three most successful polymerases were then applied to the characterization of RT-signatures of other methylated purines. Guanosines featuring methyl groups on the Watson-Crick face were identified with high confidence, but discrimination between m1G and m22G was only partially successful. In summary, the results suggest that, given sufficient coverage and a set of specifically optimized reaction conditions for reverse transcription, all RNA modifications that impede Watson-Crick bonds can be distinguished by their RT-signature.
The utility of magnetic resonance imaging lesion combinations in the sacroiliac joints for diagnosing patients with axial spondyloarthritis. A prospective study of 204 participants including post-partum women, patients with disc herniation, cleaning staff, runners and healthy persons
Authors: Seven Sengül , Østergaard Mikkel , Morsel-Carlsen Lone , Sørensen Inge Juul , Bonde Birthe , Thamsborg Gorm , Lykkegaard Jens Jørgen , Hendricks Oliver , Jørgensen Niklas Rye , Pedersen Susanne Juhl 
Published: February 2020

Abstract

Objectives
To investigate the diagnostic utility of different combinations of SI joint MRI lesions for differentiating patients with axial SpA (axSpA) from other conditions with and without buttock/pelvic pain.

Methods
A prospective cross-sectional study included patients with axSpA (n = 41), patients with lumbar disc herniation (n = 25), women with (n = 46) and without (n = 14) post-partum (birth within 4–16 months) buttock/pelvic pain and cleaning assistants (n = 26), long-distance runners (n = 23) and healthy men (n = 29) without pain. Two independent readers assessed SI joint MRI lesions according to the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada MRI definitions and pre-defined MRI lesion combinations with bone marrow oedema (BME) and fat lesions (FAT), respectively. Statistical analyses included the proportion of participants with scores above certain thresholds, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and likelihood ratios.

Results
BME adjacent to the joint space (BME@joint space) was most frequent in axSpA (63.4%), followed by women with post-partum pain (43.5%), but was present in nearly all groups. BME adjacent to fat lesions (BME@FAT) and BME adjacent to erosions (BME@erosion) were only present in axSpA patients and in women with post-partum pain, but scores ≥3 and ≥4, respectively, were only seen in axSpA patients. FAT@erosion was exclusively recorded in axSpA patients. FAT@joint space and FAT@sclerosis were present in most groups, but with higher scores in the axSpA group.

Conclusion
BME@joint space and FAT@joint space were frequent in axSpA but also in other conditions, reducing the diagnostic utility. FAT@erosion, and BME@FAT, BME@erosion and FAT@sclerosis above certain thresholds, were exclusively seen in axSpA patients and may thus have diagnostic utility in the differentiation of axSpA from other conditions.
Arthroscopic Ankle Arthrodesis: A Review of Current Concepts and Technique
Authors: Marsh Andrew , Kooner Sahil , Conlin Catherine , Hussain Rafi , Yeganeh Kourosh M. , Lau Johnny 
Published: February 2020

Background:
Open ankle arthrodesis (OAA) has traditionally been the gold standard for improving pain and function in ankle osteoarthritis patients. With advances in arthroscopic technology and improved instrumentation, arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis (AAA) has become more popular among orthopedic surgeons with equivalent or better outcomes compared with OAA. Recent studies have shown that, with increasing experience, AAA can even be suitable for large deformities, which has been traditional viewed as a relative contraindication. A review of literature and concepts with expert opinion. AAA has been shown in the literature to have equivalent fusion rates, decreased hospital length of stay, and better short-term and long-term function when compared with OAA. Arthroscopy advantages include faster time to union, decreased morbidity, decreased blood loss, and accelerated rehabilitation. Advanced arthroscopic techniques and instrumentation facilitate joint preparation with limited soft tissue injury, creating a favorable environment for fusion. Arthroscopic techniques lead to better short-term and long-term outcomes and decreased complications compared with open arthrodesis. The technique has been shown to be successful and reproducible within the literature, and can be employed to ultimately reduce overall hospital care costs and improve patient outcomes.

Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Level V. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Multifocal Vortex Keratopathy
Authors: Tan Naomi , Thaung Caroline , Tuft Stephen 
Published: February 2020

Purpose:
To report the clinical features, laboratory investigation, and histological findings of an individual with a 14-year history of an idiopathic multifocal vortex epithelial keratopathy.

Methods:
We describe the clinical appearance, the clinical course, and the response to treatment. We report the results of corneal epithelial culture, laboratory investigation for potential pathogens, and histopathology.

Results:
The signs were consistent with focal areas of corneal inflammation that produced abnormal epithelial cells that were carried in vortex patterns by the direction of epithelial flow. In vivo confocal microscopy demonstrated hyperreflective structures within the epithelial cell layer, but with only minor signs of stromal disease, similar to Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis. Culture, polymerase chain reaction, and serology did not support an infectious etiology, and histopathology showed nonspecific inflammation of the epithelial layer. Symptoms of photophobia and blur, with multiple exacerbations, required the almost continuous use of topical corticosteroid or ciclosporin over 14 years.

Conclusions:
The clinical course, as well as the response to topical corticosteroid and ciclosporin, suggests that this is distinct from Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis. The etiology is unknown.
Cardiovascular Screening of Elite Athletes by Sporting Organizations in Australia: A Survey of Chief Medical Officers
Authors: Orchard Jessica J. , Orchard John W. , Toresdahl Brett , Asif Irfan M. , Hughes David , La Gerche Andre , Semsarian Christopher 
Published: February 2020

Objective:
To compare cardiovascular screening policies of Australian elite sporting organizations.

Design:
Online survey.

Setting:
Elite/professional sports in Australia.

Participants:
Chief medical officers (CMOs) of elite/professional sports in Australia, including rugby union and league, cricket, tennis, Australian football, and cycling.

Assessment of Variables:
Survey questions about each sport's cardiac screening policy: which screening components were included [eg, history and physical (H&P), resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG)], whether screening was mandatory, whether the policy applied to elite junior and/or adult players, and which criteria were used to interpret ECGs.

Main Outcome Measures:
Which sports had a formal cardiac screening policy, which athletes the policy applied to, components of screening, ECG interpretation criteria used.

Results:
Chief medical officers for 22/31 (71%) sports responded, representing >5000 athletes. Of these, 19/22 (86%) perform regular screening (100% H&P; 89% included ECG) with international cyclists also having routine echocardiograms and stress testing. Thirty-three percent of CMOs used the 2017 International Criteria for athlete ECG interpretation. Screening was mandatory with enforcement (26%), mandatory without enforcement (48%), and opt-out (26%). All screened adult elite athletes, and 68% screened junior elite athletes. Forty-two percent indicated athletes were required to pay for screening tests, and 63% required athletes to pay for follow-up tests. Almost all (94%) sports with a sports physician as the CMO screened athletes.

Conclusions:
Most sports have a screening policy, with reasonable uniformity of components. All included H&P, and almost all included ECG. Only one sport included an echocardiogram and stress test as a standard (international players only). Promoting the latest ECG interpretation criteria may reduce false-positives and cost. Future work should explore cardiac emergency plans, screening infrastructure, cost, and long-term follow-up.
To evaluate prognostic significance of metabolic-derived tumour volume at staging 18-flurodeoxyglucose PET-CT scan and to compare it with standardized uptake value-based response evaluation on interim 18-flurodeoxyglucose PET-CT scan in patients of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma)
Authors: Gupta Nitin , Singh Natasha 
Published: February 2020

Introduction
To evaluate whether metabolic tumour volume (MTV) can be used as a prognostic indicator in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Materials and methods
Eighty-nine patients with DLBCL who underwent staging fluorodeoxyglucose PET–computed tomography (18FDG PET-CT) scan were included in this study and followed up, up to a period of 5 years. Whole-body PET-CT was performed at staging and the total MTV of all FDG avid lesions was calculated for each patient at a threshold of 42% of SUVmax. Out of 89 patients studied, six patients had persistent disease after chemotherapy, 24 had recurrence during follow-up and 59 patients remained disease free. In this study, prognostic significance of the interim PET-CT scan was also analysed. Out of 89 patients, 81 underwent interim PET-CT scan. Receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis was done to determine MTV baseline cutoff along with sensitivity and specificity. For interim PET-CT scan prognostic evaluation, sensitivity and negative predictive value were calculated.

Results
Among all 89 patients, the estimated area under the ROC curve was 0.851 and the MTV cutoff was 185.63 cm3 with sensitivity and specificity of 86.67% and 84.75%, respectively. In subset analysis of MTV cutoff, sensitivity and specificity were calculated for both the groups. For prognostic significance of the interim PET-CT scan, sensitivity and negative predictive value of staging MTV were much more than that of the interim PET-CT.

Conclusion
Baseline MTV can be used as a prognostic marker in DLBCL patients. Chemosensitive interim PET-CT scan is not a good prognostic marker compared with MTV.
Advances in chronic intestinal failure management and therapies
Authors: Deutsch Liat , Cloutier Anabelle , Lal Simon 
Published: February 2020

Purpose of reviewTo summarize changes and recent advances in therapies for chronic intestinal failure (CIF).Recent findingsIn the last few years, the management of CIF has significantly improved through better prevention and treatment of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) and intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD), as well as improved enteral autonomy by using small bowel growth factors in selected patients. This may have been reflected by a recent reduction in small bowel transplantations.SummaryAlthough CIF management has become more established and effective, the long-term implications of parenteral nutrition still place substantial burden on patients such that further work is required to improve patients’ quality of life as well as continued efforts to reduce complications relating to CIF management.
Development of a UK liver transplantation selection and allocation scheme
Authors: Gimson Alexander 
Published: February 2020

Purpose of review
Equitable allocation of organs for liver transplantation remains a major area of ongoing study. In United Kingdom, it was agreed that the success of any national donor offering scheme would be judged from the point of registration on a national list for a transplant, and would therefore include outcome while waiting for the procedure.

Recent findings
Standard minimal criteria for acceptance onto a transplant list have been developed for chronic liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma and for a number of variant syndromes where current scores do not adequately reflect the risk of death without a transplant or symptom burden. Allocation by need, or on the basis of utility, or by transplant benefit (net life years gained) were compared in a simulation against current unit-based allocation. A transplant benefit model was shown to reduce deaths on the waiting list and maximise population life years.

Summary
Since March 2018, liver donors after brain death in United Kingdom have been offered to a national list prioritised by net life years gained – transplant benefit.
Identification of US Counties at Elevated Risk for Congenital Syphilis Using Predictive Modeling and a Risk Scoring System
Authors: Cuffe Kendra M. , Kang Joseph D.Y. , Dorji Tandin , Bowen Virginia B. , Leichliter Jami S. , Torrone Elizabeth , Bernstein Kyle T. 
Published: February 2020

Background
Although preventable through timely screening and treatment, congenital syphilis (CS) rates are increasing in the United States, occurring in 5% of counties in 2015. Although individual-level factors are important predictors of CS, given the geographic focus of CS, it is also imperative to understand what county-level factors are associated with CS.

Methods
This is a secondary analysis of reported county CS cases to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System during the periods 2014–2015 and 2016–2017. We developed a predictive model to identify county-level factors associated with CS and use these to predict counties at elevated risk for future CS.

Results
Our final model identified 973 (31.0% of all US counties) counties at elevated risk for CS (sensitivity, 88.1%; specificity, 74.0%). County factors that were predictive of CS included metropolitan area, income inequality, primary and secondary syphilis rates among women and men who have sex with men, and population proportions of those who are non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, living in urban areas, and uninsured. The predictive model using 2014–2015 CS outcome data was predictive of 2016–2017 CS cases (area under the curve value, 89.2%)

Conclusions
Given the dire consequences of CS, increasing prevention efforts remains important. The ability to predict counties at most elevated risk for CS based on county factors may help target CS resources where they are needed most.
Self-Reported Prevalence of HIV Testing Among Those Reporting Having Been Diagnosed With Selected STIs or HCV, United States, 2005–2016
Authors: Patel Shilpa N. , Delaney Kevin P. , Pitasi Marc A. , Oraka Emeka , Tao Guoyu , Van Handel Michelle , Kilmer Greta , DiNenno Elizabeth A. 
Published: February 2020

Background
Persons with STIs or HCV infection often have indicators of HIV risk. We used weighted data from 6 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to assess the proportion of persons who reported ever being diagnosed as having a selected STI or HCV infection and who reported that they were ever tested for HIV.

Methods
Persons aged 20 to 59 years with prior knowledge of HCV infection before receiving NHANES HCV RNA–positive results (2005–2012) or reporting ever being told by a doctor that they had HCV infection (2013–2016), or ever had genital herpes, or had chlamydia or gonorrhea in the past 12 months were categorized as having had a selected STI or HCV infection. Weighted proportions and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for reporting ever being tested for HIV for those who did and did not report a selected STI or HCV infection.

Results
A total of 19,102 respondents had nonmissing data for STI and HCV diagnoses and HIV testing history; 44.4% reported ever having been tested for HIV, and 5.2% reported being diagnosed as having a selected STI or HCV infection. The proportion reporting an HIV test was higher for the group that reported an STI or HCV infection than for the group that did not.

Conclusion
Self-reported HIV testing remains low in the United States, even among those who reported a previous selected STI or HCV infection. Ensuring HIV tests are conducted routinely for those with overlapping risk factors can help facilitate the diagnosis of HIV infections.