bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Unilateral versus bilateral botulinum toxin injections in adductor spasmodic dysphonia in a large cohort
Authors: Dharia Ishaan , Bielamowicz Steven 
Published: December 2019

Objectives/HypothesisThe primary treatment of adductor spasmodic dysphonia is repeated injections of botulinum toxin type A (Botox) into the thyroarytenoid muscles. Dosing can be performed into either one or both thyroarytenoid muscles. The objective of this study was to evaluate the treatment effect and side effect profile across a large number of injections. This study was performed previously in 2002 on 45 patients.Study DesignIndividual cohort study.MethodsThis is retrospective study of all patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia with and without tremor treated by the senior laryngologist at George Washington University. In the current study, 272 patients (214 females and 58 males) were included in the current analysis. Duration of effects and side effects (vocal weakness and liquid dysphagia) were recorded into a database for each patient after each injection. These data were analyzed using χ2 analysis.ResultsA total of 4,023 injections (2,708 bilateral and 1,315 unilateral) were evaluated in this study. Optimal effect duration (≥3 months) was more commonly seen in the bilaterally injected patients (55%) compared to the unilaterally injected patients (47%) (P = .0001). Optimal side effect duration (≤2 weeks) was better for the unilaterally injected patients (77%) compared to the bilaterally injected patients (73%) (P = .023). Having both optimal effect and side effect in the same injection was more commonly seen in the bilaterally injected patients (36%) compared to the unilaterally injected patients (33%) (P = .0228).ConclusionsThis study shows that bilateral injections of Botox are more effective in producing optimal effect/side effect profiles.Level of Evidence2b Laryngoscope, 130:2659–2662, 2020
Proton radiotherapy and treatment delay in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Jin Michael C. , Harris Jeremy P. , Sabolch Aaron N. , Gensheimer Michael , Le Quynh‐Thu , Beadle Beth M. , Pollom Erqi L. 
Published: December 2019

ObjectiveFor patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), delays in the initiation of radiotherapy (RT) have been closely associated with worse outcomes. We sought to investigate whether RT modality (proton vs. photon) is associated with differences in the time to initiation of RT.MethodsThe National Cancer Database was queried for patients diagnosed with nonmetastatic HNSCC between 2004 and 2015 who received either proton or photon RT as part of their initial treatment. Wilcoxon rank‐sum and chi‐square tests were used to compare continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the association between use of proton RT and delayed RT initiation.ResultsA total of 175,088 patients with HNSCC receiving either photon or proton RT were identified. Patients receiving proton RT were more likely to be white, reside in higher income areas, and have private insurance. Proton RT was associated with delayed RT initiation compared to photon RT (median 59 days vs. 45, P < 0.001). Receipt of proton therapy was independently associated with RT initiation beyond 6 weeks after diagnosis (adjusted OR [aOR, definitive RT] = 1.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26–2.30) or surgery (aOR [adjuvant RT] = 4.08; 95% CI 2.64–6.62). In the context of adjuvant proton RT, increases in treatment delay were associated with worse overall survival (weeks, adjusted hazard ratio = 1.099, 95% CI 1.011–1.194).ConclusionUse of proton therapy is associated with delayed RT in both the definitive and adjuvant settings for patients with HNSCC and could be associated with poorer outcomes.Level of Evidence2bLaryngoscope, 122:0000–0000, 2019 Laryngoscope, 130:E598–E604, 2020
The contrasting east–west pattern of vegetation restoration under the large‐scale ecological restoration programmes in southwest China
Authors: Zhao Haiwei , Wu Ruidong , Hu Jinming , Yang Feiling , Wang Junjun , Guo Yang , Zhou Jian , Wang Yiting , Zhang Chen , Feng Zhixue 
Published: December 2019

AbstractEcological restoration programmes (ERPs) play an important role in reversing degraded ecosystems and realizing environmental sustainability. However, few studies have given attention to the spatial heterogeneity in the effectiveness of large‐scale ERPs for restoring vegetation on a broad regional scale. Based on the GIMMS NDVI3g time‐series of southwest China, we determined the spatiotemporal trends of the peak growing season NDVI (PGS‐NDVI) in the pre‐ERP stage (1982–1998) and in the post‐ERP stage (1999–2015). Using the NDVI‐climate regression model developed during the pre‐ERP stage and the residual trend analysis method, we derived the anthropogenic PGS‐NDVI trends of the post‐ERP stage on a per‐pixel and spatial average basis. We found that there existed an east (greening)–west (browning) contrasting pattern in the anthropogenic vegetation change during the post‐ERP stage. The proportions of anthropogenic greening pixels were heterogeneous among provinces, ranging from 66.1% (Guangxi) to 8.6% (Xizang). The ERP effectiveness index and the ERP efficiency index for Guangxi were the highest among the provinces, whereas they were both negative for Yunnan and Xizang. Such contrasting restoration pattern was probably caused by multiple factors, including but not limited to the imbalanced implementation of large‐scale ERPs and the inappropriate afforestation that inadequately takes into account local conditions. Our analysis highlights the great heterogeneity in the effectiveness of large‐scale ERPs for vegetation restoration across a broad regional scale. Large‐scale ERPs should be implemented in a coordinated manner and be tailored to local conditions.
Soil microbiotic homogenization occurred after long‐term agricultural development in desert areas across northern China
Authors: Liu Jie , Xu Aiai , Wang Changkun , Guo Zhiying , Wu Shiwen , Pan Kai , Zhang Fangfang , Pan Xianzhang 
Published: December 2019

AbstractSoil microbial communities respond significantly to long‐term agricultural development in desert areas. Because soil microbial communities are distinct in various deserts at different eco‐climate regions, their response patterns to agricultural development are diverse at a local scale. However, whether the different response patterns had some commonalities across various types of deserts at a larger spatial scale remained unclear. To address this question, historical soil samples, collected in different years from pairwise long‐term experimental plots (desert and farmland) at five field stations of the Chinese Ecosystem Research Network across northern China, were analyzed through high‐throughput sequencing approach. Here, we found that soil bacterial communities were sharply different between deserts and agricultural lands. Contrasting to desert soils with higher relative abundances of Actinobacteria and Firmicutes, agricultural soils harbored higher relative abundances of Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Planctomycetes and exhibited higher bacterial α‐diversity with less variation. More importantly, higher community similarities were found in agricultural lands for each station and all stations, suggesting that soil microbiotic homogenization occurred at both local and regional scales after long‐term agricultural development in desert areas. Further analyses revealed that the homogenization was due to the loss of desert‐endemic species and the range expansion of generalist species, which might result from the introduction of crops combined with agricultural practices. The soil microbiotic homogenization associated with the loss of endemic species should be paid special attention to because this might imply the decrease in ecological resilience to perturbations and might lead to rapid desertification in desert margin areas.
Biocrust regulates the effects of water and temperature on soil microbial and nematode communities in a semiarid ecosystem
Authors: Guan Pingting , Zhang Xiaoke , Cheng Yunyun , Zheng Hairui , Liang Wenju 
Published: December 2019

AbstractGlobal climate changes in temperature and precipitation are influencing the function of semiarid ecosystems, especially that of biocrust. Biocrust is the key biotic component in semiarid land and delivers multiple functions to belowground ecosystems. However, how biocrust affects belowground biota when temperature and water change remains unclear. We set a microcosm experiment to evaluate how soil micro‐food web responds to biocrust by changing air temperature and water content. Soil microbes and nematodes were sampled at different air temperatures (10 and 25°C) and soil water levels (4, 8, and 16% soil water content) under biocrust and bare soil. The results showed that biocrust highly increased soil microbe and nematode abundances compared with bare soil. Temperature change had no obvious effect on soil micro‐food web. Both microbial and nematode communities were strongly affected by soil water at 10°C under biocrust. Structural equation modeling analysis proved that soil pH and organic carbon were the two main factors that affected soil micro‐food channels under biocrust. Soil organic carbon affected bacterial channel and fungal channel. Soil pH affected soil bacterial channel and omnivores‐predators. Soil with 8% water content could provide the most stable habitat and soil environment to build a relatively complex and more reticulated soil micro‐food web. It can be concluded that colonization of biocrust could buffer temperature effect on soil micro‐food web. Additionally, appropriate increase in water could benefit the top‐down effect between nematodes and microbes under biocrust and could contribute to the resilience of semiarid ecosystems.
Antibody‐Negative Paraneoplastic Limbic Encephalitis, Parkinsonism, Hypothermia, and Narcolepsy Associated with Endometrial Carcinoma
Authors: Brennan Declan , Murphy Olwen C. , Fearon Conor , Brett Francesca , Murray Brian , Lynch Tim 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTBackgroundWe describe the clinical and neuropathological features of a patient with T‐cell‐mediated paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis, parkinsonism, hypothermia, and narcolepsy‐like presentation associated with endometrial carcinoma.ObjectivesThis patient with prominent parkinsonism and narcolepsy broadens the phenotype of known paraneoplastic syndromes and demonstrates the importance of investigation for occult malignancy even in the absence of paraneoplastic antibodies.MethodsThis is a case report with diagnosis confirmed at postmortem.ResultsParaneoplastic antibodies were not detected. The initial improvement with immunosuppression was short lived, and postmortem neuropathological examination demonstrated encephalitis with predominant T‐cell infiltration affecting the hypothalamus and extending to the brainstem, suggestive of a paraneoplastic syndrome.ConclusionsAlthough the possibility of a novel antibody cannot be ruled out, consideration must also be given to recent demonstration of purely T‐cell‐mediated neuronal destruction in the context of paraneoplastic syndromes.
Pathogenic copy number variants are detected in a subset of patients with gastrointestinal malformations
Authors: Winberg Johanna , Gustavsson Peter , Sahlin Ellika , Larsson Magnus , Ehrén Henrik , Fossum Magdalena , Wester Tomas , Nordgren Ann , Nordenskjöld Agneta 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundGastrointestinal atresias and urological defects are main causes of pediatric surgery in infants. As copy number variants (CNVs) have been shown to be involved in the development of congenital malformations, the aim of our study was to investigate the presence of CNVs in patients with gastrointestinal and urological malformations as well as the possibility of tissue‐specific mosaicism for CNVs in the cohort.MethodsWe have collected tissue and/or blood samples from 25 patients with anorectal malformations, esophageal atresia, or hydronephrosis, and screened for pathogenic CNVs using array comparative genomic hybridization (array‐CGH).ResultsWe detected pathogenic aberrations in 2/25 patients (8%) and report a novel possible susceptibility region for esophageal atresia on 15q26.3. CNV analysis in different tissues from the same patients did not reveal evidence of tissue‐specific mosaicism.ConclusionOur study shows that it is important to perform clinical genetic investigations, including CNV analysis, in patients with congenital gastrointestinal malformations since this leads to improved information to families as well as an increased understanding of the pathogenesis.
Biotransformation of Piceatannol, a Dietary Resveratrol Derivative: Promises to Human Health
Authors: Dai Yu , Lim Jin Xuan , Yeo Samuel Chao Ming , Xiang Xiaoqiang , Tan Kai Soo , Fu Jia Hui , Huang Lizhen , Lin Hai‐Shu 
Published: December 2019

ScopeTo evaluate the health‐promoting potentials of piceatannol (PIC), a dietary resveratrol derivative, its biotransformation is examined.Methods and resultsThe biotransformation is tested in human/rat hepatic microsomes and cytosols; its pharmacokinetic profiles are assessed in rats. Although limited phase I metabolism exists in microsomes, PIC is rapidly converted to two pharmacologically active metabolites, namely rhapontigenin (RHA) and isorhapontigenin (ISO) in cytosols. Such biotransformation is completely blocked by entacapone, a well‐known catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor, demonstrating that the O‐methylation is mediated by COMT. Moreover, PIC is identified as a substrate inhibitor of COMT, suggesting its potential benefits in Alzheimer's disease. Due to extensive phase II metabolism including glucuronidation, sulfation, and O‐methylation, PIC displays rapid clearance and at least 4.02% ± 0.61% and 17.70% ± 0.91% of PIC is converted to RHA and ISO, respectively, in rats after intravenous administration. Similarly, PIC serves as an effective precursor of ISO upon oral administration.ConclusionSince PIC and its metabolites possess pleiotropic health‐promoting activities, it has emerged as a promising nutraceutical candidate for further development. This study also reinforces the importance of in vivo testing in nutritional researches as the active metabolite(s) may be absent from the in vitro system.
Estimation of abnormal wave propagation by a novel duct map based on the average normalized path loss
Authors: Wang Sungsik , Lim Tae H. , Chong Young J. , Ko Jinwon , Park Yong B. , Choo Hosung 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIn this paper, the path losses between the Jeungdo and Heuksando transceivers located in the coastal areas of Korea are studied using the Advanced Refractive Prediction System simulation software based on the actual coastal weather database. Based on the simulated data, we propose a novel duct map that can effectively estimate the abnormal wave propagation characteristics by using the atmospheric refractive index dependent on altitude as well as the location parameters of Rx and Tx. To verify the proposed duct map, two representative atmospheric index samples are obtained from the 2017 weather database of the Heuksando weather forecast station, causing the abnormal path loss characteristics. The simulated path losses for abnormal conditions at the Rx point are 132.3 and 140.1 dB, respectively, and these results demonstrate that the abnormal radio wave propagation can effectively be predicted through the proposed duct map.
Breast tumor classification through learning from noisy labeled ultrasound images
Authors: Cao Zhantao , Yang Guowu , Chen Qin , Chen Xiaolong , Lv Fengmao 
Published: December 2019

PurposeTo train deep learning models to differentiate benign and malignant breast tumors in ultrasound images, we need to collect many training samples with clear labels. In general, biopsy results can be used as benign/malignant labels. However, most clinical samples generally do not have biopsy results. Previous works have proposed generating benign/malignant labels according to Breast Imaging, Reporting and Data System (BI‐RADS) ratings. However, this approach will cause noisy labels, which means that the benign/malignant labels produced from BI‐RADS diagnoses may be inconsistent with the ground truths. Consequently, deep models will overfit the noisy labels and hence obtain poor generalization performance. In this work, we mainly focus on how to reduce the negative effect of noisy labels when they are used to train breast tumor classification models.MethodsWe propose an effective approach called noise filter network (NF‐Net) to address the problem of noisy labels when training breast tumor classification models. Specifically, to prevent deep models from overfitting the noisy labels, we propose incorporating two softmax layers for classification. Additionally, to strengthen the effect of clean labels, we design a teacher–student module for distilling the knowledge of clean labels.ResultsWe conduct extensive comparisons with the existing works on addressing noisy labels. Our method achieves a classification accuracy of 73%, with a precision of 69%, recall of 80%, and F1‐score of 0.74. This result is significantly better than those of the existing state‐of‐the‐art works on addressing noisy labels.ConclusionsThis work provides a means to overcome the label shortage problem in training breast tumor classification models. Specifically, we can generate benign/malignant labels according to the BI‐RADS ratings. Although this approach will cause noisy labels, the design of NF‐Net can effectively reduce the negative effect of such labels.
Identification of a homozygous VRK1 mutation in two patients with adult‐onset distal hereditary motor neuropathy
Authors: Greenbaum Lior , Barel Ortal , Nikitin Vera , Hersalis‐Eldar Adi , Kol Nitzan , Reznik‐Wolf Haike , Dominissini Dan , Pras Elon , Dori Amir 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundAdult‐onset hereditary motor neuropathies are caused by mutations in multiple genes. Mutations within the vaccinia‐related kinase 1 (VRK1) gene were associated with a wide spectrum of recessively inherited motor neuropathies, characterized by childhood to early adulthood age of onset and an occasionally non‐lower motor neuron involvement.MethodsWe describe two patients with adult‐onset (aged 48 and 40 years) length‐dependent motor neuropathy from unrelated consanguineous families of Moroccan Jewish descent. One also demonstrated mild nocturnal respiratory difficulty and sensory symptoms. Whole‐exome sequencing (WES) was performed.ResultsA homozygous mutation in VRK1 (c.1160G>A (p.Arg387His)), shared by both patients, was identified. This rare mutation segregated with the disease in the two families, and was absent in 120 controls of Jewish Moroccan origin.ConclusionsOur findings support VRK1 as a causative gene for adult‐onset distal hereditary motor neuropathy, and indicate its relevance for evaluation of individuals with similar motor impairment.
Single‐pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Civardi Carlo , Collini Alessandra , Mazzini Letizia , Monaco Francesco , Geda Claudio 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIntroductionTranscranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is one of the best methods to identify changes in the corticospinal tract. We used single‐pulse TMS at the beginning of the disease and in the follow‐up in a group of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).MethodsWe evaluated the corticospinal tract in the bulbar, upper, and lower regions in 55 patients with ALS, and we monitored them for a period of 24 months. Data were correlated with clinical scales.ResultsAn increase of central motor conduction time (CMCT) was the most sensitive marker of upper motor neuron involvement. The resting motor threshold, CMCT, and the central silent period increased linearly with disease duration and upper/lower motor neuron involvement.DiscussionTranscranial magnetic stimulation could be an essential neurophysiological technique in the early phase of ALS because it has been shown to be useful in detecting subclinical upper motor neuron involvement. Multiple evaluations of several regions increase TMS sensitivity.
Nutritional neuropathies
Authors: Gwathmey Kelly G. , Grogan James 
Published: December 2019

AbstractNeuropathies associated with nutritional deficiencies are routinely encountered by the practicing neurologist. Although these neuropathies assume different patterns, most are length‐dependent, sensory axonopathies. Cobalamin deficiency neuropathy is the exception, often presenting with a non–length‐dependent sensory neuropathy. Patients with cobalamin and copper deficiency neuropathy characteristically have concomitant myelopathy, whereas vitamin E deficiency is uniquely associated with a spinocerebellar syndrome. In contrast to those nutrients for which deficiencies produce neuropathies, pyridoxine toxicity results in a non–length‐dependent sensory neuronopathy. Deficiencies occur in the context of malnutrition, malabsorption, increased nutrient loss (such as with dialysis), autoimmune conditions such as pernicious anemia, and with certain drugs that inhibit nutrient absorption. When promptly identified, therapeutic nutrient supplementation may result in stabilization or improvement of these neuropathies.
Extension of the enhanced assumed strain method based on the structure of polyconvex strain‐energy functions
Authors: Pfefferkorn Robin , Betsch Peter 
Published: December 2019

SummaryIn this work, two well‐known approaches for mixed finite elements are combined to render three novel classes of elements. First, the widely used enhanced assumed strain (EAS) method is considered. Its key idea is to enhance a compatible kinematic field with an incompatible part. The second concept is a framework for mixed elements inspired by polyconvex strain‐energy functions, in which the deformation gradient, its cofactor and determinant are three principal kinematic fields. The key idea for the novel elements is to treat enhancement of those three fields separately. This approach leads to a plethora of novel enhancement strategies and promising mixed finite elements. Some key properties of the newly proposed mixed approaches are that they are based on a Hu‐Washizu type variational functional, fulfill the patch test, are frame‐invariant, can be constructed completely locking free and show no spurious hourglassing in elasticity. Furthermore, they give additional insight into the mechanisms of standard EAS elements. Extensive numerical investigations are performed to assess the elements' behavior in elastic and elasto‐plastic simulations.
A resolved CFDEM method for the interaction between the fluid and the discontinuous solids with large movement
Authors: Mao Jia , Zhao Lanhao , Liu Xunnan , Avital Eldad 
Published: December 2019

SummaryA novel resolved combination of the computational fluid dynamics and the discrete element method (CFDEM) is proposed for the simulation of the strong coupling between the fluid and the discontinuous solids with large movement. The fluid flow governed by the full Navier‐Stokes equations is simulated using fixed grids based on the Eulerian framework, whereas the motion of the discontinuous solids is modeled by the discrete element method using the Lagrangian description. The key challenge, namely, the representation of the moving interfaces between the fluid and the solids in different frameworks, is handled by the immersed boundary method. Meanwhile, the governing equations of the coupled system are solved by the partitioned method in an iterative way to achieve a strong coupling effect. The breakthrough of the proposed resolved CFDEM method lies in the calculation of the fluid flow in fixed grids with high resolution, along with an accurate simulation of the interaction between the fluid and the discontinuous solids with arbitrary shapes and large movement. The reliability and the accuracy of the new method are validated by calculating several well‐known benchmark examples. Good agreements are achieved between the present and the known results.