bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
What Is Wrong with Empirical-Legal Research into Victimhood? A Critical Analysis of the Ordered Apology and the Victim Impact Statement
Authors: Geeraets Vincent , Veraart Wouter 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
The central question in this article is whether an empirical-legal approach to victimhood and victim rights could offer a sufficient basis for proposals for reform of the legal system. In this article, we choose a normative-critical approach and raise some objections to the way in which part of such research is currently taking place, on the basis of two examples of research in this field, one dealing with compelled apologies as a remedy within civil law and the other with the victim impact statement within criminal law. In both cases, we argue, the strong focus on the measurable needs of victims can lead to a relatively instrumental view of the legal system. The legal system must then increasingly be tailored to the wishes and needs of victims. Within this legal-empirical, victim-oriented approach, there is little regard for the general normative principles of liberal democratic legal systems, in which an equal and respectful treatment of each human being as a free and responsible legal subject is a central value. We argue that results of empirical-legal research should not too easily or too quickly be translated into proposals for legal reform, but first become part of a hermeneutical discussion about norms and legal principles, specific to the normative character of law and legal science.
Is Dry Needling Effective for the Management of Spasticity, Pain, and Motor Function in Post-Stroke Patients? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Fernández-de-las-Peñas César , Pérez-Bellmunt Albert , Llurda-Almuzara Luis , Plaza-Manzano Gustavo , De-la-Llave-Rincón Ana I , Navarro-Santana Marcos J 
Published: October 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of muscle dry needling alone or combined with other interventions on post-stroke spasticity (muscle tone), related pain, motor function, and pressure sensitivity.Databases and Data TreatmentElectronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials including post-stroke patients where at least one group received dry needling and outcomes were collected on spasticity and related pain. Secondary outcomes included motor function and pressure pain sensitivity. Data were extracted by two reviewers. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, methodological quality was assessed with the Physiotherapy Evidence Database score, and the quality of evidence was assessed by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. Between-groups mean differences (MDs) and standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated.ResultsSeven studies (three within the lower extremity, four in the upper extremity) were included. The meta-analysis found significantly large effect sizes of dry needling for reducing spasticity (SMD: -1.01, 95%confidence interval [CI] -1.68 to -0.34), post-stroke pain (SMD -1.01, 95%CI -1.73 to -0.30), and pressure pain sensitivity (SMD 1.21, 95% CI: 0.62 to 1.80) as compared with a comparative group at short-term follow-up. The effect on spasticity was found mainly in the lower extremity (MD -1.05, 95% CI: -1.32 to -0.78) at short-term follow-up. No effect on spasticity was seen at 4 weeks. No significant effect on motor function (SMD 0.16, 95% CI: -0.13 to 0.44) was observed. The risk of bias was generally low, but the imprecision of the results downgraded the level of evidence.ConclusionModerate evidence suggests a positive effect of dry needling on spasticity (muscle tone) in the lower extremity in post-stroke patients. The effects on related pain and motor function are inconclusive.
Plasma Levels of Proresolving and Prophlogistic Lipid Mediators: Association With Severity of Respiratory Failure and Mortality in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Tejera Paula , Abdulnour Raja-Elie E. , Zhu Zhaozhong , Su Li , Levy Bruce D. , Christiani David C. 
Published: October 2020

Objectives:
Acute respiratory distress syndrome is characterized by an overly exuberant inflammatory state in the lung. Specialized proresolving mediators are endogenous agonists for the resolution of lung inflammation and injury in health, yet their association with acute respiratory distress syndrome severity and outcomes remains to be defined. In the current study, we investigate associations between plasma levels of specialized proresolving mediators and acute respiratory distress syndrome severity and mortality.

Design:
Translational pilot study nested within a large prospective cohort of patients with risk factors for acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Setting:
ICU from a large medical center.

Patients:
Twenty-six Caucasian patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome and available plasma from early in critical illness.

Interventions:
None.

Measurements and Main Results:
Here, in samples from 26 acute respiratory distress syndrome patients, we examined plasma levels of select specialized proresolving mediators that promote lung injury resolution in preclinical systems, namely lipoxin A4 and maresin 1, and select prophlogistic lipid mediators linked to acute respiratory distress syndrome pathogenesis, namely cysteinyl leukotrienes and thromboxane B2. These mediators were detected by sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: lipoxin A4 (assay range) (8.2–5,000 pg/mL), maresin 1 (7.8–1,000 pg/mL), cysteinyl leukotrienes (7.8–1,000 pg/mL), and thromboxane B2 (15.6–2,000 pg/mL). Lower plasma levels of specialized proresolving mediators were associated with increased duration of ventilatory support and ICU length of stay. Even in this small sample size, trends were evident for increased cysteinyl leukotrienes to specialized proresolving mediator ratios (cysteinyl leukotrienes/maresin 1 and cysteinyl leukotrienes/lipoxin A4) in acute respiratory distress syndrome nonsurvivors.

Conclusions:
Lower specialized proresolving mediator levels in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients may disrupt timely resolution of lung inflammation and/or injury and contribute to clinical severity and mortality.
A Prospective Study of Optic Nerve Ultrasound for the Detection of Elevated Intracranial Pressure in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Agrawal Deepak , Raghavendran Krishnan , Zhao Lili , Rajajee Venkatakrishna 
Published: October 2020

Objectives:
Intracranial pressure monitoring plays a critical role in the management of severe traumatic brain injury. Our objective was to evaluate the accuracy of optic nerve sheath diameter as a noninvasive screening test for the detection of elevated intracranial pressure and prediction of intracranial pressure treatment intensity.

Design:
Prospective, blinded study of diagnostic accuracy.

Setting:
Neurotrauma ICU.

Subjects:
Consecutive patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

Interventions:
Optic nerve ultrasound was performed daily and optic nerve ultrasound measured at the point-of-care as well as remotely by an expert blinded to all patient details. Optic disc elevation was also measured. The index test was the highest remote-expert optic nerve ultrasound for the admission. The reference standard was the concurrent invasive intracranial pressure, with test-positivity set at intracranial pressure greater than 22 mm Hg. A priori the minimally acceptable sensitivity threshold was 90% with corresponding specificity 60%. We also evaluated the ability of optic nerve ultrasound to predict a therapeutic intensity level greater than 10.

Measurements and Main Results:
One hundred twenty patients were enrolled. The intraclass correlation coefficient between point of care and expert optic nerve sheath diameter after enrollment of 50 subjects was poor at 0.16 (–0.08 to 0.41) but improved to 0.87 (0.81–0.92) for the remaining subjects after remedial training. The area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve of the highest expert-measured optic nerve sheath diameter to detect intracranial pressure greater than 22 mm Hg was 0.81 (0.73–0.87); area under the curve for prediction of therapeutic intensity level greater than 10 was 0.51 (0.42–0.60). Optic nerve sheath diameter greater than 0.72 demonstrated sensitivity 82% (48–98%) and specificity 79% (70–86%) for intracranial pressure greater than 22 mm Hg. The area under the curve of highest measured optic disc elevation to detect intracranial pressure greater than 22 mm Hg was 0.84 (0.76–0.90). Optic disc elevation greater than 0.04 cm attained sensitivity 90% (56–100%) and specificity 71% (61–79%).

Conclusions:
While optic nerve sheath diameter demonstrated a modest, statistically significant correlation with intracranial pressure, a predetermined level of diagnostic accuracy to justify routine clinical use as a screening test was not achieved. Measurement of optic disc elevation appears promising for the detection of elevated intracranial pressure, however, verification from larger studies is necessary.
Push-Rate Threshold for Physical Activity Intensity in Persons Who Use Manual Wheelchairs
Authors: Rice Ian M. , Jeng Brenda , Silveira Stephanie L. , Motl Robert W. 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
There is evidence that manual wheelchair users are among the least physically active in society. However, the current cut points for quantifying physical activity intensity based on steps per minute have been developed for ambulatory adults from the general population and other clinical populations and may not be appropriate or applicable for manual wheelchair users. This study examined the association between push rate (an analog of step rate) and energy expenditure across three speeds of treadmill wheelchair propulsion among manual wheelchair users and further generated a push-rate cut point for quantifying moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Persons who used manual wheelchairs (N = 17) performed three, 6-min bouts of manual wheelchair propulsion on a motor-driven treadmill at speeds of 0.7, 1.3, and 2.0 m/sec. Push rate per trial was measured using SMARTwheels, and the rate of oxygen consumption per trial was measured using a portable metabolic system. The mean (SD) R2
value for the relationship between push rate and energy expenditure was 0.78 (0.14). The mean (SD) push-rate cut point for quantifying moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was 55.05 (26.06) pushes/min. This preliminary study provides the first push-rate cut point for quantifying moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among a heterogeneous sample of manual wheelchair users. This threshold may be important for public health promotion and individual-level monitoring and prescription of free-living physical activity behavior among manual wheelchair users.
Asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment is a risk for symptomatic decline over a 3-year study period
Authors: Rourke Sean B. , Bekele Tsegaye , Rachlis Anita , Kovacs Colin , Brunetta Jason , Gill M. John , Carvalhal Adriana , Cysique Lucette A. , Marcotte Thomas , Power Christopher 
Published: October 2020

Objective:
To examine whether persons with asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment (ANI) were more likely to show progression to mild neurocognitive disorder or HIV-associated dementia than those who were neuropsychologically normal (NP-N).

Design:
Longitudinal observational cohort study.

Methods:
Study sample included 720 HIV-1 seropositive persons (317 with ANI and 403 NP-N) receiving care in Toronto, Canada [83% were on antiretroviral treatment; 71% had undetectable (<50 copies/ml) plasma HIVRNA]. Neuropsychological assessments were conducted at 12 months intervals for a median follow-up time of 34 months. Neuropsychological data were corrected for age, education, sex, and race/ethnicity, and corrected for practice effect at follow-ups. Progression to mild neurocognitive disorder and HIV-associated dementia at each time point was determined using the Global Deficit Score and presence of cognitive symptoms.

Results:
Over the follow-up period, 170 individuals (24%) progressed to symptomatic HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Persons with ANI were more likely to progress to symptomatic HAND than persons with NP-N after adjusting for baseline and time-varying confounders (adjusted hazards ratio: 1.88; 95% confidence interval: 1.37–2.60; P
< 0.001). Female sex, depression, and cigarette smoking were associated with higher risk of progression to symptomatic HAND, but traditional HIV markers and antiretroviral treatment were not.

Conclusion:
ANI is associated with a two-fold increased risk of progression to symptomatic HAND in a cohort with universal healthcare access. This represents the largest replication of comparable US results. Reproducibility of these findings indicate that routine monitoring of persons with ANI and exploration of clinical interventions to prevent or delay progression to symptomatic HAND are imperative.

Search terms:
HIV, HAND, HIV-associated dementia, cohort study, replicability, reproducibility.
Efficacy of Epinephrine Injection in Preventing Post-ERCP Pancreatitis
Authors: Torun Serkan , Ödemiş Bülent , Çetin Mehmet F. , Önmez Attila , Coşkun Orhan 
Published: October 2020

Background:
Rectal indomethacin or a topical spray of epinephrine to the papilla of Vater has each shown efficacy alone in the prevention of post–endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP). We supposed that a submucosal epinephrine injection would be more effective and longer acting than a topical epinephrine spray and therefore would further reduce the incidence of PEP.

Patients and Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted of 412 patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) between January 2017 and December 2019. These patients were divided into 2 groups: the indomethacin group and the indomethacin plus the submucosal epinephrine injection group. The incidence rates and severity of PEP, post-ERCP hyperamylasemia, other outcomes, and any other adverse events were compared between the groups.

Results:
Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics and procedure-related parameters were similar between the 2 groups. The incidence of PEP was 0.4% in the epinephrine group compared with 5.1% in the indomethacin group (P<0.001). Post-ERCP hyperamylasemia occurred in 24.6% of patients in the indomethacin group, whereas 7.6% of patients in the epinephrine group developed this condition; the difference was significant (P<0.001). Postsphincterotomy bleeding occurred in 5 patients, all of whom were in the indomethacin group (P<0.001). Other adverse events, including arrhythmias, acute coronary events, stroke, or hypertension were not significantly different between the 2 groups.

Conclusion:
Addition of a submucosal epinephrine injection in conjunction with rectal indomethacin significantly reduced the incidence of PEP, post-ERCP hyperamylasemia, and postsphincterotomy bleeding.
Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of SARS-CoV-2 infection in recovered COVID-19 patients: studies based on cellular and structural biology analysis
Authors: Wu Fan , Yan Renhong , Liu Mei , Liu Zezhong , Wang Yingdan , Luan Die , Wu Kaiyue , Song Zhigang , Sun Tingting , Ma Yunping , Zhang Yuanyuan , Wang Qimin , Li Xiang , Ji Ping , Li Yaning , Li Cheng , Wu Yanling , Ying Tianlei , Wen Yumei , Jiang Shibo , Zhu Tongyu , Lu Lu , Zhang Yongzhen , Zhou Qiang , Huang Jinghe 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAntibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) has been reported in several virus infections including dengue fever virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus infection. To study whether ADE is involved in COVID-19 infections, in vitro pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 entry into Raji cells, K562 cells, and primary B cells mediated by plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients were employed as models. The enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells was more commonly detected in plasma from severely-affected elderly patients with high titers of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-specific antibodies. Cellular entry was mediated via the engagement of FcγRII receptor through virus-cell membrane fusion, but not by endocytosis. Peptide array scanning analyses showed that antibodies which promote SARS-CoV-2 infection targeted the variable regions of the RBD domain. To further characterize the association between the spike-specific antibody and ADE, an RBD-specific monoclonal antibody (7F3) was isolated from a recovered patient, which potently inhibited SARS-Cov-2 infection of ACE-2 expressing cells and also mediated ADE in Raji cells. Site-directed mutagenesis the spike RBD domain reduced the neutralization activity of 7F3, but did not abolish its binding to the RBD domain. Structural analysis using cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) revealed that 7F3 binds to spike proteins at a shift-angled pattern with one “up” and two “down” RBDs, resulting in partial overlapping with the receptor binding motif (RBM), while a neutralizing monoclonal antibody that lacked ADE activity binds to spike proteins with three “up” RBDs, resulting in complete overlapping with RBM. Our results revealed that ADE mediated by SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific antibodies could result from binding to the receptor in slightly different pattern from antibodies mediating neutralizations. Studies on ADE using antibodies from recovered patients via cell biology and structural biology technology could be of use for developing novel therapeutic and preventive measures for control of COVID-19 infection.
Meta-analysis and adjusted estimation of COVID-19 case fatality risk in India and its association with the underlying comorbidities
Authors: Singh Balbir B. , Ward Michael P , Lowerison Mark , Lewinson Ryan T. , Vallerand Isabelle A. , Deardon Rob , Gill Játinder PS. , Singh Baljit , Barkema Herman W. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThere is a lack of COVID-19 adjusted case fatality risk (aCFR) estimates and information on states with high aCFR. State-specific aCFRs were estimated, using 13-day lag for fatality. To estimate country-level aCFR, state estimates were meta-analysed. Multiple correspondence analyses (MCA), followed by univariable logistic regression, were conducted to understand the association between aCFR and geodemographic, health and social indicators. Based on health indicators, states likely to report a higher aCFR were identified. Using random- and fixed-effects models, the aCFRs in India were 1.42 (95% CI 1.19 – 1.70) and 2.97 (95% CI 2.94 – 3.00), respectively. The aCFR was grouped with the incidence of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and acute respiratory infections in the first and second dimensions of MCA. The current study demonstrated the value of using meta-analysis to estimate aCFR. To decrease COVID-19 associated fatalities, states estimated to have a high aCFR must take steps to reduce co-morbidities.Article Summary LineMeta-analysis and the COVID-19 adjusted case fatality risks (aCFRs) in India are reported and states likely to report a higher aCFR have been identified.
Increased aperiodic gamma power in young boys with Fragile X is associated with better language ability
Authors: Wilkinson Carol L. , Nelson Charles A. 
Published: October 2020

ABSTRACTThe lack of identified clinical biomarkers in Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), the most common inherited form of intellectual disability, has limited the successful translation of bench-to-bedside therapeutics. While numerous drugs have shown promise in reversing synaptic and behavioral phenotypes in mouse models of FXS, none have demonstrated clinical efficacy in humans. Electroencephalographic (EEG) measures have been identified as candidate biomarkers as EEG recordings of both adults with FXS and mouse models of FXS consistently exhibit increased resting-state gamma power. However, the developmental timing of these EEG differences is not known as thus far EEG studies have not focused on young children with FXS. Further, understanding how EEG differences are associated to core symptoms of FXS is crucial to successful use of EEG as a biomarker, and may improve our understanding of the disorder. Resting-state EEG was collected from FXS boys with full mutation of Fmr1 (32-84 months old, n=11) and compared with both age-matched (n=12) and cognitive-matched (n=12) typically developing boys. Power spectra (including aperiodic and periodic components) were compared using non-parametric cluster-based permutation testing. Associations between 30-50Hz gamma power and cognitive, language, and behavioral measures were evaluated using Pearson correlation and linear regression with age as a covariate. FXS participants showed increased power in the beta/gamma range (∼25-50Hz) across multiple brain regions. Both a reduction in the aperiodic (1/f) slope and increase in beta/gamma periodic activity contributed to the significant increase in high-frequency power. Increased gamma power, driven by the aperiodic component, was associated with better language ability in the FXS group. No association was observed between gamma power and parent report measures of behavioral challenges, sensory hypersensitivities, or adaptive behaviors. The observed positive association between increased aperiodic gamma power and language supports hypotheses that increased E/I ratios observed in FXS mouse models may reflect beneficial compensation.
Cleaning and Re-Use of cobas® 6800/8800 Processing Plates for the SARS-CoV-2 Assay
Authors: Sperling Matt , Relich Ryan , Schmitt Bryan , Bell Drew , Cooper Lauren 
Published: October 2020

AbstractReal-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) is the primary method used for the detection and diagnosis of infections caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since SARS-CoV-2’s entrance into the United States, numerous clinical laboratories and in vitro diagnostic companies have developed rRT-PCR assays, some requiring specialized materials and reagents. One such assay includes the cobas® SARS-CoV-2 Qualitative Assay for use on the cobas® 6800/8800 (Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.). Since initiation of this assay at our facility, our ability to run testing at full capacity has been limited due to restricted supply of the omni cobas® Processing Plate (Product Number 05534917001), a 96 deep well plate used for all sample processing and total nucleic acid extraction via MagNA Pure magnetic beads. To work around this limiting factor, we have successfully designed and tested a cleaning protocol utilizing the widely available laboratory resources of bleach, ethyl-alcohol and autoclaving, for omni cobas® Processing Plate re-use.