bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Results of a RCT assessing saline and xylitol nasal irrigation for CRS and fatigue in Gulf War illness
Authors: Rabago David , Kille Tony , Mundt Marlon , Obasi Chidi 
Published: July 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the efficacy of saline nasal irrigation (S‐NI) and xylitol nasal irrigation (X‐NI) for chronic rhinosinusitis in participants with Gulf War illness (GWI).MethodsThis 26 week, 3‐arm (1:1:1) randomized controlled trial examined veterans meeting criteria for GWI with moderate‐to‐severe chronic rhinosinusitis and fatigue symptoms. All participants received standard of care for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS); additionally, S‐NI or X‐NI participants added twice‐daily NI using 2% saline or 5% xylitol solutions. Outcomes included disease‐specific quality of life (primary; sino‐nasal outcome test [SNOT‐20]; 0‐100 points), overall quality of life (Short‐Form 36), and fatigue (Multidimensional Fatigue Index). Outcome assessors were blind to allocation group. Intention‐to‐treat analysis used repeated measures modeling; statistical significance was evaluated at the two‐sided α level of .05.ResultsRandomization (N = 40) produced three similar groups regarding sex (male, 80%), age (53.8 ± 7.8 years), duration (19.8 ± 7.7 years), and illness severity (48.5 ± 12.7 SNOT‐20 points). Age‐ and gender‐adjusted between‐group comparison showed that X‐NI participants, compared with control, reported improved SNOT‐20 scores at 8 weeks (13.5 points, 95% confidence interval [CI] −27.9 to 0.9) and at 26 weeks (15.4 points, 95% CI −30.1 to −0.6). S‐NI participants improved by 13.4 points (95% CI −28.8, 2.1) at 26 weeks compared with control.The improvement in both NI groups approached minimal clinical important difference compared to control for the SNOT‐20 in the general population. Secondary outcomes were not different between groups. Satisfaction in both irrigation groups was high.ConclusionsThis randomized controlled trial suggests that NI with saline or xylitol improves chronic sinus symptoms among participants with GWI with improvement scores similar to those in the general population.Level of Evidence1b, individual randomized controlled trial.
EXERCISING GRIT IN CHALLENGING TIMES
Authors: Polson Shannon Huffman 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe author begins with an anecdote about the first time she flew an Army Apache helicopter, and the counterintuitive lessons she drew from it that became part of her work as the founder and chief executive officer of The Grit Institute, a leadership development organization. She describes her conceptualization of grit and contrasts it with that of the well‐known grit author/researcher Angela Duckworth. Approaches to risk are discussed: training to push through the places where we feel uncomfortable for any reason requires taking smaller risks, sometimes in other areas. Not only surviving, but thriving through challenges is a dance of reconnecting to foundational principles and being willing to act confidently with only partial information, and take that action with certainty and grounded optimism. Three areas are explored in detail: (1) setting your anchor, (2) leading with audacity, and (3) staying adaptable. For the adaptable leader, grit is still required. But adaptability requires grit as well as confidence and creativity. When faced with obstacles, a leader can shut down or be resigned to circumstance, or a leader can look for opportunity, look for other ways to accomplish goals.
A new method for the solution of hybrid analog digital beamforming problems
Authors: Amini Ebrahim , Reza Marzban Hamid , Rastegari Mahdi 
Published: July 2020

SummaryBy going to millimeter wave (mmWave) we can use large scale MIMO due to short mmWave wavelength to overcome path loss by using beamforming to focus power of signal to the receiver. System structure of mmWave band is different with conventional MIMO because of large scale MIMO which is leading to use many RF‐chains. For this reason Hybrid structure have been proposed for large Scale MIMO. By going to Hybrid structure a new issue has been created with phase shifter constraint. In this paper we propose a novel solution to make a hybrid precoding and combing to reach high spectral efficiency. Our problem includes a maximizing Frobenius norm of multiplying five complex matrices. As constraints, all elements of some matrices must have unit norm, and also the multiplication of some matrices must have a specific Frobenius norm. A novel solution is proposed for the problem, which is gained in two steps. At the first step, we propose a new decomposition usable for kind of complex matrices which could lead to reduce the dimension of the objective function, and eliminating constraints completely and in the second step, we propose an iterated algorithm for the resulting problem. By proposing another novel technique, we show that in each iteration, the optimal problem is equivalent to a quadratic optimal problem with limitations on the vector norm, and as a result, an optimal problem is obtained quickly. Moreover, some other real examples are included to demonstrate the usefulness and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Investigation into the dynamic molecular and conductivity mechanisms of piezoelectric ceramics Pb[ZrxTi1−x]O3/epoxy piezocomposites
Authors: Hammami Helmi , Fakhfakh Slim , Lagache Manuel , Kallel Ali 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThroughout this work, an experimental and theoretical analysis of the molecular dynamics, correlated with the alternating current conductivity σac(ω, T),of unidirectional piezoelectric composites used as actuators and/or sensors in different systems was carried out. The 3D‐representation of the imaginary part M″(ω, T) of the electric modulus shows, apart from the presence of the classical secondary β and the primary α dipolar relaxation processes, the appearance of a new peak attributed to the Maxwell‐Wagner‐Sillars (MWS) interfacial polarization whose amplitude depends on the rate of reinforcement. In our case, since we are usually within the range of fragile materials, the stiffness of the 26% fiber content composite is about 4.5 times greater than that of 13.4% (via the fragility parameter D), shows a less pronounced curvature and the nature of the relaxation times is closer to the Arrhenius type. Due to the high dispersion of the conductivity with the frequency of applied electrical field in the range (1‐104 Hz), Jonscher's “universal power law” has been revised by adding a new term, which takes into account the displacement current density. The ac conductivity adjustment procedure, using the new obtained expression, turns out to be accurate and follows the experimental data reported in the low, high, and even intermediate frequency domains. This theoretical approach allowed us to determine the key parameters (∆ε, τmax,…) unique to each relaxation process, and to demonstrate the MWS interfacial polarization that is directly linked to the adhesion between the PZT fibers and the epoxy resin matrix.
Establishment and neural differentiation of neural crest-derived stem cells from human dental pulp in serum-free conditions
Authors: Solis-Castro Oscar O. , Boissonade Fiona M. , Rivolta Marcelo N. 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
The potential of obtaining cell cultures with neural crest resemblance (neural crest-derived stem cells [NCSCs]) from dental-related tissues, including human dental pulp cells (hDPCs), has been discussed in the literature. However, most reports include the use of serum-rich conditions and do not describe the potential for neural differentiation, slowing translation to the clinic. Therefore, we aimed to culture and characterize NCSCs from the human dental pulp in vitro and evaluate their ability to differentiate into neurons; we also investigated the effectiveness of the addition of BMP4 to enhance this potential. Cultures were established from a varied cohort of patient samples and grown, as monolayers, in serum, serum-free, and also under sphere-aggregation conditions to induce and identify a NCSC phenotype. hDPC cultures were characterized by immunocytochemistry and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Monolayer cultures expressed stem cell, neural progenitor and neural crest-related markers. Culturing hDPCs as neurospheres (hDPC-NCSCs) resulted in an increased expression of neural crest-related genes, while the addition of BMP4 appeared to produce better NCSC characteristics and neural differentiation. The neural-like phenotype was evidenced by the expression of TUJ1, peripherin, NFH, TAU, SYN1, and GAP43. Our results describe the establishment of hDPC cultures from a large variety of patients in serum-free medium, as NCSC that differentiate into neural-like cells, as well as an important effect of BMP4 in enhancing the neural crest phenotype and differentiation of hDPCs.
Insights gained from a systematic reanalysis of a successful model‐facilitated change process in health care
Authors: Holmström Paul , Hallberg Stefan , Björk‐Eriksson Thomas , Lindberg Jesper , Olsson Caroline , Bååthe Fredrik , Davidsen Pål 
Published: July 2020

AbstractHealth care is a complex system with multiprofessional staff and multiple patient care pathways. Time pressure and minimal margins for error make it challenging to implement new policies or procedures, no matter how desirable. Changes in health care also requires the participation of the staff. System dynamics (SD) simulations can lead to shared systems understanding and allows for the development and testing of new scenarios in silico before implementing solutions. However, research shows that the actual implementation rate of simulations is low. This paper presents a reanalysis of a successful change project in health care combining SD principles with basic action research (AR) premises. The analysis was done by a multidisciplinary research group using qualitative methodology and identifies that a fruitful combination of AR inquiry and SD modelling potentially can improve implementation rates.
Can operational profile coverage explain post‐release bug detection?
Authors: Andrade Lucas , Machado Patrícia , Andrade Wilkerson 
Published: July 2020

SummaryTo deliver reliable software, developers may rely on the fault detection capability of test suites. To evaluate this capability, they can apply code coverage metrics before a software release. However, recent research results have shown that these metrics may not provide a solid basis for this evaluation. Moreover, the fixing of a fault has a cost, and not all faults have the same impact regarding software reliability. In this sense, operational testing aims at assessing parts of the system that are more valuable for users. The goal of this work is to investigate whether traditional code coverage and code coverage merged with operational information can be related to post‐release bug detection. We focus on the scope of proprietary software under continuous delivery. We performed an exploratory case study where code branch and statement coverage metrics were collected for each version of a proprietary software together with real usage data of the system. We then measured the ability to explain the bug‐fixing activity after version release using code coverage levels. We found that traditional statement coverage has a moderate negative correlation with bug‐fixing activities, whereas statement coverage merged with the operational profile has a large negative correlation with higher confidence. Developers can consider operational information as an important factor of influence that should be analysed, among other factors, together with code coverage to assess the fault detection capability of a test suite.
Sodium hydroxide effect on the mechanical properties of flyash‐slag based geopolymer concrete
Authors: Verma Manvendra , Dev Nirendra 
Published: July 2020

AbstractGeopolymer concrete is an innovative, sustainable, cementless, and eco‐friendly concrete that directly reduces the carbon footprints due to the total replacement of the cement from the concrete. A very excessive amount of CO2 produces in the production of cement. In the experimental investigation, analysis of the mechanical properties or engineering properties of the GPC of the different molarity of NaOH (8–16 M), and also different Na2SiO3/NaOH ratio (0.5–3.0) analyses in the destructive testing of the GPC. Examine the curing temperature effect on the engineering properties of the GPC. After the experimental investigation, oven‐cured specimens got a higher engineering strength compared to the ambient‐cured specimens of the same mix designs. The 14 M mix design got the optimum point for engineering strength among the various molar concentrated mix designs. In the case of the alkaline ratio, the 2.5 got the optimum point of the engineering strength among all ratios of the sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide. The highest compressive strength, splitting tensile, and flexural strength in the all mix designs got are 35.7 N/mm2, 5.2 N/mm2, and 5.6 N/mm2 respectively at 56 days after oven‐curing. Based on results, proposed the correlation equation between the splitting strength and compressive strength and equation between the flexural strength and compressive strength.
Computational Study of Desynchronization of Fast‐Spiking Interneurons at Macroscopic Gamma Oscillations
Authors: Yoshikai Yuto , Mori Fumina , Kotani Kiyoshi , Jimbo Yasuhiko 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThere are typically two distinct types of single‐neuron dynamics, known as Class I and Class II. Fast‐spiking (FS) neurons are a type of Class II neuron, which tend to exhibit periodic spikes in the gamma frequency. Although the population dynamics of Class I neurons are well elucidated with the Fokker‐Planck equation (FPE), much remains unknown about the population dynamics of Class II neurons. This is because the population model of Class II neurons typically leads to a high‐dimensional FPE that is hard to analyze. The modified theta (MT) model is one of the simplest mathematical models of Class I neurons, which possesses voltage‐dependent dynamics and has advantages in the analysis of population dynamics. In this study, we propose two approximation methods to derive a one‐dimensional FPE for FS interneurons using the framework of MT transformation. One method is mean‐field approximation of the variable related to adaptation; the other is semi‐adiabatic approximation of the variable. We confirm the firing characteristics of a single neuron in these approximated models match well to that of the original model proposed by Izhikevich. For the populational dynamics of the gamma oscillation, FPEs with these approximations make it possible to identify the region where Class II neuron firings synchronize. Bifurcation analyses of two FPEs show that semi‐adiabatic approximation fits better to the numerical results than mean‐field approximation. FPE with semi‐adiabatic approximation better illustrates the fact that a population of FS interneurons has a narrower region of gamma oscillation than that of Class I neurons. Moreover, analysis with semi‐adiabatic approximation of a population composed of both Class I and FS interneurons has a narrower region of synchronization with an increase in the FS interneuron ratio. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Evaluation of response using FDG-PET/CT and diffusion weighted MRI after radiochemotherapy of pancreatic cancer: a non-randomized, monocentric phase II clinical trial—PaCa-DD-041 (Eudra-CT 2009-011968-11)
Authors: Zimmermann Carolin , Distler Marius , Jentsch Christina , Blum Sophia , Folprecht Gunnar , Zöphel Klaus , Polster Heike , Troost Esther G. C. , Abolmaali Nasreddin , Weitz Jürgen , Baumann Michael , Saeger Hans-Detlev , Grützmann Robert 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease with a 5-year survival rate of 20–25%. As approximately only 20% of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are initially staged as resectable, it is necessary to evaluate new therapeutic approaches. Hence, neoadjuvant (radio)chemotherapy is a promising therapeutic option, especially in patients with a borderline resectable tumor. The aim of this non-randomized, monocentric, prospective, phase II clinical study was to assess the prognostic value of functional imaging techniques, i.e., [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) and diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI), prior to and during neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy.

Methods
Patients with histologically proven resectable, borderline resectable or unresectable non-metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma received induction chemotherapy followed by neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy. Patients underwent FDG-PET/CT and DW-MRI including T1- and T2-weighted sequences prior to and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy as well as following induction radiochemotherapy. The primary endpoint was the evaluation of the response as quantified by the standardized uptake value (SUV) measured with FDG-PET. Response to treatment was evaluated by FDG-PET and DW-MRI during and after the neoadjuvant course. Morphologic staging was performed using contrast-enhanced CT and contrast-enhanced MRI to decide inclusion of patients and resectability after neoadjuvant therapy. In those patients undergoing subsequent surgery, imaging findings were correlated with those of the pathologic resection specimen.

Results
A total of 25 patients were enrolled in the study. The response rate measured by FDG-PET was 85% with a statistically significant decrease of the maximal SUV (SUVmax) during therapy (p < 0.001). Using the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), response was not detectable with DW-MRI. After neoadjuvant treatment 16 patients underwent surgery. In 12 (48%) patients tumor resection could be performed. The median overall survival of all patients was 25 months (range: 7–38 months).

Conclusion
Based on these limited patient numbers, it was possible to show that this trial design is feasible and that the neoadjuvant therapy regime was well tolerated. FDG-PET/CT may be a reliable method to evaluate response to the combined therapy. In contrast, when evaluating the response using mean ADC, DW-MRI did not show conclusive results.
Inflammation shapes pathogenesis of murine arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Lubos Nadine , van der Gaag Svenja , Gerçek Muhammed , Kant Sebastian , Leube Rudolf E. , Krusche Claudia A. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractArrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (AC) is an incurable genetic disease, whose pathogenesis is poorly understood. AC is characterized by arrhythmia, fibrosis, and cardiodilation that may lead to sudden cardiac death or heart failure. To elucidate AC pathogenesis and to design possible treatment strategies of AC, multiple murine models have been established. Among them, mice carrying desmoglein 2 mutations are particularly valuable given the identification of desmoglein 2 mutations in human AC and the detection of desmoglein 2 auto-antibodies in AC patients. Using two mouse strains producing either a mutant desmoglein 2 or lacking desmoglein 2 in cardiomyocytes, we test the hypothesis that inflammation is a major component of disease pathogenesis. We show that multifocal cardiomyocyte necrosis initiates a neutrophil-dominated inflammatory response, which also involves macrophages and T cells. Increased expression of Ccl2/Ccr2, Ccl3/Ccr5, and Cxcl5/Cxcr2 mRNA reflects the observed immune cell recruitment. During the ensuing acute disease phase, Mmp12+ and Spp1+ macrophages and T cells accumulate in scars, which mature from cell- to collagen-rich. The expression of Cx3cl1/Cx3cr1, Ccl2/Ccr2, and Cxcl10/Cxcr3 dominates this disease phase. We furthermore find that during chronic disease progression macrophages and T cells persist within mature scars and are present in expanding interstitial fibrosis. Ccl12 and Cx3cl1 are predominant chemokines in this disease phase. Together, our observations provide strong evidence that specific immune cell populations and chemokine expression profiles modulate inflammatory and repair processes throughout AC progression.
Protozoan infections are under-recognized in Swedish patients with gastrointestinal symptoms
Authors: Ögren Jessica , Dienus Olaf , Beser Jessica , Henningsson Anna J. , Matussek Andreas 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIn acute gastroenteritis (GE), identification of the infectious agent is important for patient management and surveillance. The prevalence of GE caused by protozoa may be underestimated in Swedish patients. The purpose was to compare the prevalence of E. histolytica, Cryptosporidium spp., G. intestinalis, and C. cayetanensis in samples from patients where the clinician had requested testing for gastrointestinal parasites only (n = 758) to where testing for bacterial GE only (n = 803) or where both parasite and bacterial testing (n = 1259) was requested and a healthy control group (n = 197). This prospective cohort study was conducted in Region Jönköping County, Sweden (October 2018–March 2019). Fecal samples were analyzed with microscopy and real-time PCR. Cryptosporidium spp. was detected in 16 patients in the bacterial GE group and in 13 in the both bacterial and parasite group; no cases were detected in the group were only parasite infection was suspected. C. cayetanensis was detected in two patients in the bacterial GE group. One case of E. histolytica was detected in the bacterial group and one in the both bacterial and parasite group. G. intestinalis was detected in 14 patients in the parasite only group, 12 in the both parasite and bacterial group, three in the bacterial GE group, and one in the control group. Diarrhea caused by protozoa, especially Cryptosporidium was under–recognized by clinicians and is likely more common than hitherto estimated in Sweden. A more symptom-based diagnostic algorithm may increase detection and knowledge about protozoan infections.
A regionally-adaptable “scaled backbone” ground motion logic tree for shallow seismicity in Europe: application to the 2020 European seismic hazard model
Authors: Weatherill Graeme , Kotha Sreeram Reddy , Cotton Fabrice 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe selection of ground motion models, and the representation of their epistemic uncertainty in the form of a logic tree, is one of the fundamental components of probabilistic seismic hazard and risk analysis. A new ground motion model (GMM) logic tree has been developed for the 2020 European seismic hazard model, which develops upon recently compiled ground motion data sets in Europe. In contrast to previous European seismic hazard models, the new ground model logic tree is built around the scaled backbone concept. Epistemic uncertainties are represented as calibrations to a reference model and aim to characterise the potential distributions of median ground motions resulting from variability in source scaling and attenuation. These scaled backbone logic trees are developed and presented for shallow crustal seismic sources in Europe. Using the new European strong motion flatfile, and capitalising on recent perspectives in ground motion modelling in the scientific literature, a general and transferable procedure is presented for the construction of a backbone model and the regionalisation of epistemic uncertainty. This innovative approach forms a general framework for revising and updating the GMM logic tree at national and European scale as new strong motion data emerge in the future.