bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oncotype DX Breast Cancer recurrence score resists inter-assay reproducibility with RT2-Profiler Multiplex RT-PCR
Authors: Schildgen Verena , Warm Mathias , Brockmann Michael , Schildgen Oliver 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe Oncotype Dx assay is frequently used to test if breast cancer patients can be spared from chemotherapy without negative effects for their future clinical course. However, due to conflicting data on the assay utility, in the recent past its reimbursement situation in Germany was revised; due to continued requests by clinicians for predictive values, our group decided to implement an Oncotype Dx like alternative assay with the objective of obtaining quality and cost optimization. Customized RT2-Profiler assays covering the 21 gene panel of the Oncotype Dx assay were applied to a pilot cohort of breast cancer patients with known Oncotype Dx Recurrence Score (RS). The Ct values obtained with RT2-Profiler-assays were used to calculate the unscaled Recurrence Score (RSu) values and the thereon based RS according to the Oncotype DX assay rules if available. Despite consistent assay performance it was impossible to establish correlations between RT2-Profiler recurrence scores with the respective Oncotype DX values not to mention exact matches. By following the Oncotype DX assay and its interpretation as close as possible we faced several obstructions such as lack of information on RNA amount used, missing units in the single gene expression report, missing references cited in the original study that should explain the determination of the recurrence score formula, and vague information on the normalization of the gene expression impeding the reproduction of Oncotype Dx results in other laboratories. Unfortunately, the Oncotype Dx assay cannot be confirmed by the customized RT2-profiler assay, not least because of the fact that the individual gene measurements are not provided in the medical report, although these are mandatory for the RS calculation. In fact, the “single gene report” only contains unscaled scores of the ER, PR, and Her2 genes without any internationally accepted unit used to describe a transcript quantity. Therefore a direct comparison with the in-house measurement to evaluate its performance is impossible. With regard to our findings and the fact that the Oncotype RS represents a likelihood of the risk of relapse it thus remains impossible to assess the clinical necessity of this assay.
Deep placement of controlled-release urea effectively enhanced nitrogen use efficiency and fresh ear yield of sweet corn in fluvo-aquic soil
Authors: Liu Wei , Xiong Yousheng , Xu Xiangyu , Xu Fangsen , Hussain Saddam , Xiong Hanfeng , Yuan Jiafu 
Published: December 2019

AbstractApplication of controlled-release urea (CRU) improves crop yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) compared with conventional urea. However, the effectiveness of CRU differs with fertilization placement. A two site-year field experiment was carried out in fluvo-aquic soil in central China to study the effects of two N sources (CRU and urea) and three fertilization placements (band application between two corn rows at 0, 5, and 15 cm soil depths) on fresh ear yield and NUE of sweet corn. The soil inorganic N (NO3−-N and NH4+-N) concentrations at the soil layers of 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm, root morphology characteristics and leaf physiological functions were also measured during the sweet corn growth period. Results showed that the deep placement of CRU at 15 cm soil depth significantly increased the sweet corn fresh ear yield, total N uptake, and NUE by 6.3%–13.4%, 27.9%–39.5%, and 82.9%–140.1%, respectively compared with CRU application at 0 cm depth. Deep placement of CRU at 15 cm also increased the root morphology traits, gas exchange attributes, and soil NO3−-N and NH4+-N concentrations in 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm layer, especially during later crop growth stages. However, the different N placements exerted non-significant effects on NUE and fresh ear yield when urea was applied as the N source. In crux, deep CRU placement instead of urea at 15 cm depth can effectively improve fresh ear yield and NUE of sweet corn in fluvo-aquic soil because of higher root growth, better leaf physiological functions and increased availability of soil NO3−-N and NH4+-N.
A metrological approach to the analysis of choroidal thickness by optical coherence tomography 3D scans in myopia research
Authors: Breher Katharina , Ohlendorf Arne , Wahl Siegfried 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIn myopia research, changes of choroidal thickness in response to optically induced signals serve as predictor for changes in axial length that might be correlated with myopia progression. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides a tool for imaging the choroid, however, with certain difficulties because of a limited visibility of the scleral-choroidal interface. Considering the previously reported effect sizes of thickness change in human myopia research, this study investigated the repeatability of automated 3D choroidal segmentation across the macular area of 6 × 6 mm2. Fifteen subjects underwent nine volume scans in two OCT devices with analysis of the 95% interval of repeatability, intersubject and intrasubject variations, as well as interdevice agreement. Repeatability generally improved with increasing eccentricity from the fovea. The nasal perifoveal region exhibited the best repeatability with ±19 and ±21 μm in both OCT devices, whereas the subfovea showed a repeatability of ±57 and ±44 μm, respectively. High inter- and intrasubject variations were observed, together with a negative bias in the device agreement. Although there is still limited data on thickness changes of the nasal choroid, future studies could focus more on measuring the effect size in the nasal perifoveal area to account for metrological issues in choroidal segmentation.
Environmental impact of tsetse eradication in Senegal
Authors: Ciss Mamadou , Bassène Mireille D. , Seck Momar T. , Mbaye Abdou G. , Sall Baba , Fall Assane G. , Vreysen Marc J. B. , Bouyer Jérémy 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe sterile insect technique is an environment friendly control tactic and is very species specific. It is not a stand-alone technique and has been used mostly in combination with other control tactics within an area-wide integrated pest management strategy. For a period of eight years, the direct impact of a campaign to eradicate a population of the tsetse flyGlossina palpalis gambiensisin Senegal was monitored using a set of fruit-feeding insect species (Cetoniinae and Nymphalidae) that served as ecological indicators of the health of the ecosystem. Here we show that the eradication campaign had very limited impacts on the apparent densities of the most frequent species as well as three diversity indexes during the reduction phase involving insecticides but reverted to pre-intervention levels as soon as the release of the sterile male insects started. These results greatly expand our understanding of the impact of vector eradication campaigns on non-target species.
Antimicrobial Photoinactivation Using Visible Light Plus Water-Filtered Infrared-A (VIS + wIRA) and Hypericum Perforatum Modifies In Situ Oral Biofilms
Authors: Vollmer Andreas , Al-Ahmad Ali , Argyropoulou Aikaterini , Thurnheer Thomas , Hellwig Elmar , Attin Thomas , Vach Kirstin , Wittmer Annette , Ferguson Kerry , Skaltsounis Alexios Leandros , Karygianni Lamprini 
Published: December 2019

AbstractDue to increasing antibiotic resistance, the application of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is gaining increasing popularity in dentistry. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial effects of aPDT using visible light (VIS) and water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) in combination with a Hypericum perforatum extract on in situ oral biofilms. The chemical composition of H. perforatum extract was analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS). To obtain initial and mature oral biofilms in situ, intraoral devices with fixed bovine enamel slabs (BES) were carried by six healthy volunteers for two hours and three days, respectively. The ex situ exposure of biofilms to VIS + wIRA (200 mWcm−2) and H. perforatum (32 mg ml−1, non-rinsed or rinsed prior to aPDT after 2-min preincubation) lasted for five minutes. Biofilm treatment with 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate solution (CHX) served as a positive control, while untreated biofilms served as a negative control. The colony-forming units (CFU) of the aPDT-treated biofilms were quantified, and the surviving microorganisms were identified using MALDI-TOF biochemical tests as well as 16 S rDNA-sequencing. We could show that the H. perforatum extract had significant photoactivation potential at a concentration of 32 mg ml−1. When aPDT was carried out in the presence of H. perforatum, all biofilms (100%) were completely eradicated (p = 0.0001). When H. perforatum was rinsed off prior to aPDT, more than 92% of the initial viable bacterial count and 13% of the mature oral biofilm were killed. Overall, the microbial composition in initial and mature biofilms was substantially altered after aPDT, inducing a shift in the synthesis of the microbial community. In conclusion, H. perforatum-mediated aPDT using VIS + wIRA interferes with oral biofilms, resulting in their elimination or the substantial alteration of microbial diversity and richness. The present results support the evaluation of H. perforatum-mediated aPDT for the adjunctive treatment of biofilm-associated oral diseases.
Farmer typology to understand differentiated climate change adaptation in Himalaya
Authors: Shukla Roopam , Agarwal Ankit , Gornott Christoph , Sachdeva Kamna , Joshi P. K. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractSmallholder farmers’ responses to the climate-induced agricultural changes are not uniform but rather diverse, as response adaptation strategies are embedded in the heterogonous agronomic, social, economic, and institutional conditions. There is an urgent need to understand the diversity within the farming households, identify the main drivers and understand its relationship with household adaptation strategies. Typology construction provides an efficient method to understand farmer diversity by delineating groups with common characteristics. In the present study, based in the Uttarakhand state of Indian Western Himalayas, five farmer types were identified on the basis of resource endowment and agriculture orientation characteristics. Factor analysis followed by sequential agglomerative hierarchial and K-means clustering was use to delineate farmer types. Examination of adaptation strategies across the identified farmer types revealed that mostly contrasting and type-specific bundle of strategies are adopted by farmers to ensure livelihood security. Our findings show that strategies that incurred high investment, such as infrastructural development, are limited to high resource-endowed farmers. In contrast, the low resourced farmers reported being progressively disengaging with farming as a livelihood option. Our results suggest that the proponents of effective adaptation policies in the Himalayan region need to be cognizant of the nuances within the farming communities to capture the diverse and multiple adaptation needs and constraints of the farming households.
Modulated Photocurrent Spectroscopy for Determination of Electron and Hole Mobilities in Working Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Nojima Hiroki , Kobayashi Takashi , Nagase Takashi , Naito Hiroyoshi 
Published: December 2019

AbstractCarrier drift mobility is an important physical constant in the charge transport process of organic solar cells (OSCs). Although time-of-flight and space-charge-limited current techniques have been frequently utilized for mobility measurements, the validity of a new method using modulation photocurrent spectroscopy is discussed in this contribution. The advantages of this method are its applicability to working OSCs with optimized device structures and the simultaneous determination of the electron and hole mobilities. These features make it possible to study the relation between the mobility balance and the solar cell characteristics, such as the power conversion efficiency, using only a single working OSC; hence, it is not necessary to fabricate electron-only and hole-only devices for mobility measurements. After carrying out numerical simulations to examine the validity of this method for mobility determination, the dependence of the mobility balance on the mixing ratio of the electron-donor and –acceptor materials is presented.
Enhanced oligomerization of full-length RAGE by synergy of the interaction of its domains
Authors: Moysa Alexander , Hammerschmid Dietmar , Szczepanowski Roman H. , Sobott Frank , Dadlez Michal 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe pattern recognition receptor RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end-products) transmits proinflammatory signals in several inflammation-related pathological states, including vascular diseases, cancer, neurodegeneration and diabetes. Its oligomerization is believed to be important in signal transduction, but RAGE oligomeric structures and stoichiometries remain unclear. Different oligomerization modes have been proposed in studies involving different truncated versions of the extracellular parts of RAGE. Here, we provide basic characterization of the oligomerization patterns of full-length RAGE (including the transmembrane (TM) and cytosolic regions) and compare the results with oligomerization modes of its four truncated fragments. For this purpose, we used native mass spectrometry, analytical ultracentrifugation, and size-exclusion chromatography coupled with multi-angle light scattering. Our results confirm known oligomerization tendencies of separate domains and highlight the enhanced oligomerization properties of full-length RAGE. Mutational analyses within the GxxxG motif of the TM region show sensitivity of oligomeric distributions to the TM sequence. Using hydrogen–deuterium exchange, we mapped regions involved in TM-dependent RAGE oligomerization. Our data provide experimental evidence for the major role of the C2 and TM domains in oligomerization, underscoring synergy among different oligomerization contact regions along the RAGE sequence. These results also explain the variability of obtained oligomerization modes in RAGE fragments.
Characterization of potential biomarkers of reactogenicity of licensed antiviral vaccines: randomized controlled clinical trials conducted by the BIOVACSAFE consortium
Authors: Weiner January , Lewis David J. M. , Maertzdorf Jeroen , Mollenkopf Hans-Joachim , Bodinham Caroline , Pizzoferro Kat , Linley Catherine , Greenwood Aldona , Mantovani Alberto , Bottazzi Barbara , Denoel Philippe , Leroux-Roels Geert , Kester Kent E. , Jonsdottir Ingileif , van den Berg Robert , Kaufmann Stefan H. E. , Del Giudice Giuseppe 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBiomarkers predictive of inflammatory events post-vaccination could accelerate vaccine development. Within the BIOVACSAFE framework, we conducted three identically designed, placebo-controlled inpatient/outpatient clinical studies (NCT01765413/NCT01771354/NCT01771367). Six antiviral vaccination strategies were evaluated to generate training data-sets of pre-/post-vaccination vital signs, blood changes and whole-blood gene transcripts, and to identify putative biomarkers of early inflammation/reactogenicity that could guide the design of subsequent focused confirmatory studies. Healthy adults (N = 123; 20–21/group) received one immunization at Day (D)0. Alum-adjuvanted hepatitis B vaccine elicited vital signs and inflammatory (CRP/innate cells) responses that were similar between primed/naive vaccinees, and low-level gene responses. MF59-adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccine (ATIV) induced distinct physiological (temperature/heart rate/reactogenicity) response-patterns not seen with non-adjuvanted TIV or with the other vaccines. ATIV also elicited robust early (D1) activation of IFN-related genes (associated with serum IP-10 levels) and innate-cell-related genes, and changes in monocyte/neutrophil/lymphocyte counts, while TIV elicited similar but lower responses. Due to viral replication kinetics, innate gene activation by live yellow-fever or varicella-zoster virus (YFV/VZV) vaccines was more suspended, with early IFN-associated responses in naïve YFV-vaccine recipients but not in primed VZV-vaccine recipients. Inflammatory responses (physiological/serum markers, innate-signaling transcripts) are therefore a function of the vaccine type/composition and presence/absence of immune memory. The data reported here have guided the design of confirmatory Phase IV trials using ATIV to provide tools to identify inflammatory or reactogenicity biomarkers.
Unveiling Positioning Nystagmus in Patients of Horizontal Semicircular Canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo by Diagnostic Head-Shaking in the Yaw Plane
Authors: Vats Ajay Kumar 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Introduction The diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is largely dependent on elicitation of positioning nystagmus on the diagnostic positional tests, namely Dix-Hallpike and supine roll tests (DHT and SRT, respectively), in patients complaining of vertigo, which occurs when patient’s head moves relative to the gravity. The pattern of elicited positioning nystagmus localizes as well as lateralizes the diseased canal, and the therapeutic positioning maneuver is accordingly undertaken.
Objective The diagnostic positional tests, at times fail to elicit positional nystagmus, leaving clinician in a state of dilemma, when examining a patient who is currently experiencing paroxysms of vertigo triggered by positional change. In two patients with history consistent with BPPV but with negative positional tests initially, head shaking for 10 seconds in the yaw axis was done, and Dix-Hallpike and supine roll tests were repeated. The aim of head shaking for 10 seconds was to unveil positional nystagmus, to precisely localize and lateralize the diseased semicircular canal.
Results and Discussion In the two cases of horizontal semicircular canal BPPV (HSC-BPPV) reported here, the DHT and/or SRT initially failed to elicit positional nystagmus but head shaking for 10 seconds in the left Dix–Hallpike position in case one and with the head anteflexed 30-degrees in the sitting position in the case two, unveiled horizontal positional nystagmus on ensuing SRT. The use of head-shaking in the yaw plane to unveil a horizontal positioning nystagmus in cases where a conventional positional test (DHT and SRT) has failed to elicit the PN, has not been reported in the literature hitherto.
Conclusion After precise localization and lateralization of the diseased canal, both patients successfully underwent successful treatment with Gufoni maneuver. A verifying SRT done at 1 hour and/or at 24 hours follow-up was negative. In patients, who are currently experiencing paroxysms of vertigo triggered by the change of position of head relative to the gravity; head-shaking for few seconds just prior to the positioning test, can unveil positional nystagmus not elucidated with the conventionally performed positional tests.
Minimally Invasive Inlay Prosthesis Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty for the Treatment of Unicompartmental Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study with Minimum 2-Year Outcomes and up to 14-Year Survival
Authors: Scholes Corey , Ebrahimi Milad , Field Clarice , Farah Sami , Kerr Dennis , Kohan Lawrence 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThere are limited medium-term outcome data available for the Repicci II device in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). The purpose of this study was to report the medium-term (minimum 2 years) patient-reported outcomes and long-term (up to 14 years) procedure survival in a consecutive series of patients undergoing an inlay prosthesis UKA (Repicci II) at an independent orthopaedic clinic. Patients presenting with medially localized unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis and meeting the criteria appropriate for UKA were recruited to a clinical patient registry at the time of presentation. A cemented unicompartmental prosthesis (Repicci II) was implanted using minimally invasive techniques with rapid postoperative mobilization. Patients were asked to complete patient-reported outcomes preoperatively and annually postoperatively. A procedure list was cross-matched with the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOANJRR), and an analysis of procedure survival was performed with comparison to the national data for UKA. Data from a cohort of 661 primary medial compartment UKA procedures performed in 551 patients over a 15-year period were extracted from the clinical patient registry. Significant improvements were maintained in general health, disease symptoms, pain, and function at an average follow-up of 9 years compared with preoperative data. Threshold analysis revealed that >65% of patients exceeded Patient Acceptable Symptom State at the latest follow-up, with >80% within or exceeding age-matched norms for general health. Cumulative revision rate was significantly lower than that reported for UKA in the AOANJRR at up to 13 years follow-up. This series represents a lower cumulative revision rate than previously reported, with >65% of patients reporting satisfactory functional outcomes at an average of 9 years from surgery. Surgical options for treating unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis could include UKA as a viable alternative; however, clear definitions of procedure success and its overall cost–benefit ratio in the context of ongoing management of knee osteoarthritis remain to be elucidated.
When is My Baby Going Home? Moderate to Late Preterm Infants are Discharged at 36 Weeks Based on Admission Data
Authors: Higgins Joyce Alanna , Sengupta Arnab , Garfield Craig F. , Myers Patrick 
Published: December 2019

AbstractObjective This study evaluates the effect of admission characteristics of uncomplicated moderate to late preterm infants on timing of discharge. One of the first questions that families of infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) ask is, “When is my baby going home?” Moderate to late preterm infants are the largest cohort of NICU patients but little data exist about their length of stay (LOS).Study Design A retrospective electronic chart review was completed on 12,498 infants admitted to our NICU between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2015. All inborn infants with a gestational age between 320/7 and 366/7 weeks were studied.Results A total of 3,240 infants met our inclusion criteria. The mean postmenstrual age at discharge was 363/7 weeks. Infants who were small for gestational age were significantly more likely to have an increased LOS. Infants born between 34 and 366/7 weeks had a significantly increased LOS if they had respiratory distress syndrome. Admission diagnoses of neonatal abstinence syndrome, meconium aspiration syndrome, hydrops, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, biliary emesis, ABO incompatibly, and a genetic diagnosis all had increased LOS for all late preterm infants.Conclusion For uncomplicated moderate to late preterm infants, clinicians can counsel families that their infants will likely be discharged at 36 weeks of postmenstrual age. Small for gestational age infants and those with specific diagnoses may stay longer.