bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Operative Case Volume Minimums Necessary for Surgical Training Throughout Rural Africa
Authors: Parker Robert K. , Topazian Hillary M. , Parker Andrea S. , Mwachiro Michael M. , Strain Shinji , White Russell E. , Thelander Keir , Riviello Robert 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundResident operative case volumes are an important aspect of surgical education, and minimums are required in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) programs. Minimum operative case volumes for training do not exist in rural Africa. Our objective was to determine the optimal minimum operative case volume necessary for general surgery training in rural Africa.MethodsA cross‐sectional census electronic survey was conducted among faculty (N = 24) and graduates (N = 56) of Pan‐African Academy of Christian Surgeons training programs. Three equally weighted exposures (median minimum case volume suggested by participants, operative experience of prior graduates, and comparisons with ACGME minimums), adjusted from responses to targeted questions, were utilized to construct an optimal minimum operative case volume for training.ResultsSixty‐four surgeons were contacted and 40 (13 faculty, 24 graduates, and 3 graduates who became faculty) participated. All participants thought operative case minimums were necessary, and the majority (98%) felt current training adequately prepared surgeons for their setting. Constructed optimal case volumes included 1000 major cases with fewer required cases than ACGME in abdomen, breast, thoracic, vascular, endoscopy, and laparoscopy and more required cases than ACGME for alimentary tract, endocrine, operative trauma, skin and soft tissue, pediatric, and plastic surgery. Other categories (gynecology, orthopedics, and urology) were deemed necessary for surgical training, with regional differences. Prior graduates satisfied the overall, but not category‐specific, proposed minimums.ConclusionsThe surveyed surgeons highlighted the need for diverse surgical training with minimum exposures. They described increased need for cases reflecting regional variations with a desire for more experience in categories less common at their institutions.
How Can We Predict the Recovery from Pitch Lowering After Thyroidectomy?
Authors: Kim Sang‐Yeon , Park Jun‐Ook , Bae Ja‐Seong , Lee So‐Hee , Hwang Yeon‐Shin , Shim Mi‐Ran , Park Young‐Hak , Sun Dong‐Il 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundSome of patients are suffered from pitch lowering of voice after thyroidectomy. We sought to identify factors predictive of a recovery from lowered pitch voice after thyroid surgery.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the records of 133 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy to treat papillary carcinoma between January 2012 and February 2013. Of these, we enrolled 78 who exhibited a lower‐pitched voice (SFF fall > 12 Hz) at 2 weeks post‐operatively than pre‐operatively and investigated pitch recovery after 3 months. We subclassified patients into recovery and non‐recovery groups and compared videostroboscopic findings, acoustic voice data, and thyroidectomy‐related voice questionnaire scores pre‐operatively and 2, 8, and 12 weeks post‐operatively.ResultsVocal cord asymmetry on videostroboscopic examination at 2 weeks post‐operatively (odds ratio 19.056, p = 0.001*) was more frequent in the non‐recovery group. In acoustic analysis, mean pre‐operative SFF was higher in the non‐recovery group than the recovery group (190.9 ±  27.5 and 180.9 ±  24.6 Hz, respectively; p = 0.030*). Also, a reduction in the SFF of > 19.6 Hz, at 2 weeks post‐operatively versus pre‐operatively, predicted non‐recovery of pitch‐lowering in patients with reduced SFF within post‐operative 3 months, with 72.0% sensitivity and 71.2% specificity. After 6 months of follow‐up, no patient who exhibited an SFF fall > 19.6 Hz recovered to within 10 Hz of the pre‐operative value.ConclusionA reduction in the speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) > 19.6 Hz at 2 weeks post‐operatively predicted persisting lowering of voice pitch after thyroidectomy among those with lower‐pitched voices after surgery. Pre‐operative high SFF and post‐operative stroboscopic findings including vocal cord asymmetry at 2 weeks post‐operatively also predicted persisting lowering of voice pitch for 3 months.
Cut, overlap and locate: a deep learning approach for the 3D localization of particles in astigmatic optical setups
Authors: Franchini Simon , Krevor Samuel 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Astigmatic optical systems encode the depth location of spherical objects in the defocus blur of their images. This allows the simultaneous imaging of 3D positions of a large number of such objects, which can act as tracer particles in the study of fluid flows. The challenge lies in decoding the depth information, as defocused particle images might be overlapping or have low maximum intensity values. Current methods are not able to simultaneously detect and locate overlapping and low-intensity particle images. In addition, their cost of computation increases with particle image density. We show how semi-synthetic images of defocused particle images with proximate center point positions can be employed to train an end-to-end trainable particle image detector. This allows for the detection of low-intensity and overlapping particle images in a single pass of an image through a neural network. We present a thorough evaluation of the uncertainty of the method for the application of particles in fluid flow measurements. We achieve a similar error in the depth predictions to previous algorithms for non-overlapping particle images. In the case of neighboring particle images, the location error increases with decreasing particle image center distances and peaks when particle image centers share the same location. When dealing with actual measurement images, the location error increases by approximately a factor of two when particle images share the same center point locations. The trained model detects low-intensity particle images close to the visibility limit and covers 91.4% of the depth range of a human annotator. For the employed experimental arrangement, this increased the depth range along which particle images can be detected by 67% over a previously employed thresholding detection method (Franchini et al. in Adv Water Resour 124:1–8, 2019).

Graphic abstract
Impact of anaemia at discharge following colorectal cancer surgery
Authors: Dru Rebecca C. , Curtis Nathan J. , Court Emma L. , Spencer Catherine , El Falaha Sara , Dennison Godwin , Dalton Richard , Allison Andrew , Ockrim Jonathan , Francis Nader K. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractObjectivesPreoperative anaemia is common in patients with colorectal cancer and increasingly optimised prior to surgery. Comparably little attention is given to the prevalence and consequences of postoperative anaemia. We aimed to investigate the frequency and short- or long-term impact of anaemia at discharge following colorectal cancer resection.MethodsA dedicated, prospectively populated database of elective laparoscopic colorectal cancer procedures undertaken with curative intent within a fully implemented ERAS protocol was utilised. The primary endpoint was anaemia at time of discharge (haemoglobin (Hb) < 120 g/L for women and < 135 g/L for men). Patient demographics, tumour characteristics, operative details and postoperative outcomes were captured. Median follow-up was 61 months with overall survival calculated with the Kaplan-Meier log rank method and Cox proportional hazard regression based on anaemia at time of hospital discharge.ResultsA total of 532 patients with median 61-month follow-up were included. 46.4% were anaemic preoperatively (cohort mean Hb 129.4 g/L ± 18.7). Median surgical blood loss was 100 mL (IQR 0–200 mL). Upon discharge, most patients were anaemic (76.6%, Hb 116.3 g/L ± 14, mean 19 g/L ± 11 below lower limit of normal,p < 0.001). 16.7% experienced postoperative complications which were associated with lower discharge Hb (112 g/L ± 12 vs. 117 g/L ± 14,p = 0.001). Patients discharged anaemic had longer hospital stays (7 [5–11] vs. 6 [5–8],p = 0.037). Anaemia at discharge was independently associated with reduced overall survival (82% vs. 70%,p = 0.018; HR 1.6 (95% CI 1.04–2.5),p = 0.034).ConclusionAnaemia at time of discharge following elective laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery and ERAS care is common with associated negative impacts upon short-term clinical outcomes and long-term overall survival.
Prostaglandin E2 receptor 3 (EP3) signaling promotes migration of cervical cancer via urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR)
Authors: Ye Yao , Peng Lin , Vattai Aurelia , Deuster Eileen , Kuhn Christina , Dannecker Christian , Mahner Sven , Jeschke Udo , von Schönfeldt Viktoria , Heidegger Helene H. 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Purpose
Cervical cancer metastasis results in poor prognosis and increased mortality, which is not separated from inflammatory reactions accumulated by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). As a specific G-protein coupled PGE2 receptor, EP3 is demonstrated as a negative prognosticator of cervical malignancy. Now, we aimed to investigate the pathological mechanism of EP3 in modulating cervical cancer carcinogenesis.

Methods
Bioinformatics analysis was used to identify PAI-1 and uPAR correlations with EP3 expression, as well as the prognosis of cervical cancer patients. In vitro analyses were carried out to investigate the role of EP3 on cervical cancer proliferation and migration.

Results
In vitro studies showed that sulprostone (an EP3 agonist) enhanced the proliferation and migration of cervical cancer cells, whereas silencing of EP3 inhibited their proliferation and migration. Furthermore, EP3 knockdown increased the expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (p-ERK1/2), but decreased p53 expression. Bioinformatics analysis showed that both PAI-1 and uPAR were correlated with EP3 expression, as well as the prognosis of cervical cancer patients. The survival analysis further showed that uPAR overexpression (IRS≥2) was correlated with a lower overall survival rate of cervical cancer patients with advanced stages (FIGO III-IV).

Conclusion
These results indicated that EP3 signaling pathway might facilitate the migration of cervical cancer cells through modulating uPAR expression. Therefore, EP3 and uPAR could represent novel therapeutic targets in the treatment of cervical cancer in advantaged stages.
Mucin expression in gastric- and gastro-oesophageal signet-ring cell cancer: results from a comprehensive literature review and a large cohort study of Caucasian and Asian gastric cancer
Authors: Kerckhoffs K. G. P. , Liu D. H. W. , Saragoni L. , van der Post R. S. , Langer R. , Bencivenga M. , Iglesias M. , Gallo G. , Hewitt L. C. , Fazzi G. E. , Vos A. M. , Renaud F. , Yoshikawa T. , Oshima T. , Tomezzoli A. , de Manzoni G. , Arai T. , Kushima R. , Carneiro F. , Grabsch H. I. 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
The literature on the prognostic relevance of signet-ring cell (SRC) histology in gastric cancer (GC) is controversial which is most likely related to inconsistent SRC classification based on haematoxylin–eosin staining. We hypothesised that mucin stains can consistently identify SRC-GC and predict GC patient outcome.

Methods
We performed a comprehensive literature review on mucin stains in SRC-GC and characterised the mucin expression in 851 Caucasian GC and 410 Asian GC using Alcian Blue (AB)-Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS), MUC2 (intestinal-type mucin), and MUC5AC (gastric-type mucin). The relationship between mucin expression and histological phenotype [poorly cohesive (PC) including proportion of SRCs, non-poorly cohesive (non-PC), or mucinous (MC)], clinicopathological variables, and patient outcome was analysed.

Results
Depending on mucin expression and cut-offs, the positivity rates of SRC-GC reported in the literature varied from 6 to 100%. Patients with MUC2 positive SRC-GC or SRC-GC with (gastro)intestinal phenotype had poorest outcome.
In our cohort study, PC with ≥ 10% SRCs expressed more frequently MUC2, MUC5AC, and ABPAS (p < 0.001, p = 0.004 and p < 0.001, respectively). Caucasians with AB positive GC or combined ABPAS-MUC2 positive and MUC5AC negative had poorest outcome (all p = 0.002). This association was not seen in Asian patients.

Conclusions
This is the first study to suggest that mucin stains do not help to differentiate between SRC-GC and non-SRC-GC. However, mucin stains appear to be able to identify GC patients with different outcome. To our surprise, the relationship between outcome and mucin expression seems to differ between Caucasian and Asian GC patients which warrants further investigations.
Interleukin-17A derived from mast cells contributes to fibrosis in gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination
Authors: Gunjigake Katsuya , Kinoshita Jun , Yamaguchi Takahisa , Saito Hiroto , Fujimori Daisuke , Horiike Toshihide , Harada Shinichi , Tajima Hidehiro , Ninomiya Itasu , Ohta Tetsuo , Fushida Sachio 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Objectives
Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) is pro-inflammatory cytokine and acts as profibrotic factor in the fibrosis of various organs. Fibrosis tumor-like peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer interferes with drug delivery and immune cell infiltration because of its high internal pressure. In this study, we examined the relationship between IL-17A and tissue fibrosis in peritoneal dissemination and elucidated the mechanism of fibrosis induced by IL-17A using human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) and a mouse xenograft model.

Methods
Seventy gastric cancer patients with peritoneal dissemination were evaluated. The correlation between IL-17A and fibrosis was examined by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. A fibrosis tumor model was developed based on subcutaneous transplantation of co-cultured cells (HPMCs and human gastric cancer cell line MKN-45) into the dorsal side of nude mice. Mice were subsequently treated with or without IL-17A. We also examined the effect of IL-17A on HPMCs in vitro.

Results
There was a significant correlation between IL-17A expression, the number of mast cell tryptase (MCT)-positive cells, and the degree of fibrosis (r = 0.417, P < 0.01). In the mouse model, IL-17A enhanced tumor progression and fibrosis. HPMCs treated with IL-17A revealed changes to a spindle-like morphology, decreased E-cadherin expression, and increased α-SMA expression through STAT3 phosphorylation. Moreover, HPMCs treated with IL-17A showed increased migration.

Conclusions
IL-17A derived from mast cells contributes to tumor fibrosis in peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer. Inhibiting degranulation of mast cells might be a promising treatment strategy to control organ fibrosis.
Explaining “spatial purport of perception”: a predictive processing approach
Authors: Rorot Wiktor 
Published: June 2020

AbstractDespite the large interest in the human ability to perceive space present in neuroscience, cognitive science and psychology, as well as philosophy of mind, the issues regarding egocentric space representation received relatively less attention. In this paper I take up a unique phenomenon related to this faculty: the “spatial purport” of perceptual experiences. The notion was proposed by Rick Grush to describe the subjective, qualitative aspects of egocentric representations of spatial properties and relations. Although Grush offered an explanation of the mechanism giving rise to appearance of spatial purport, his model had considerable shortcomings. In the paper I thoroughly analyze both the notion of spatial purport and Grush’s explanation of the mechanism at its core in order to develop his theory using the insights provided by the predictive processing theory of mind, and more particularly by the active inference framework. The extended account I offer, named Predictive and Hierarchical Skill Theory, explains phenomena that escaped Grush’s model and furthers the research on egocentric space representation from the perspective of both neuroscience and philosophy of mind.
Experimental evaluation of thiamine as a new clay swelling inhibitor
Authors: Parvizi Ghaleh Saeed , Khodapanah Elnaz , Tabatabaei-Nezhad Seyyed Alireza 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThis study aims at evaluating the performance of thiamine as a new eco-friendly shale inhibitor in water-based drilling fluids (WBDFs). The evaluation experiments include sedimentation, bentonite inhibition, filtration, zeta potential, thermal gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, shale cuttings recovery, linear swelling and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The performance of thiamine was compared to potassium chloride. In contrast to deionized water, the aqueous solution of thiamine exhibited greater power to inhibit montmorillonite (Mt) dispersion, much more Mt loading capacity (280 g/L) and fluid loss, lower Mt mass loss, larger aggregated Mt particles, lower interlayer space of the Mt particles, less shale cuttings disintegration and lower linear swelling. Adsorption of thiamine on Mt led to a significant shift in the value of zeta potential (from −17.1 to +8.54 mV). Thiamine demonstrated superior inhibitive performance than potassium chloride. FTIR analysis confirmed that thiamine is adsorbed on Mt particles. The compatibility test revealed the compatibility of thiamine with conventional WBDF additives. It was concluded that the main probable inhibition mechanisms of thiamine are the cation exchange and Mt surface coating. In view of its prominent inhibition capacity and great environmental acceptability, thiamine is a promising inhibitor for drilling in water-sensitive formations.
Concept for the calculation of the distribution of heat input in the cathode area by GMA welding
Authors: Mokrov O. , Simon M. , Schiebahn A. , Reisgen U. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractCurrently used approaches for the modeling of the heat input in gas metal arc (GMA) welding process simulation usually assume an axisymmetrical Gaussian distribution of heat flux in the cathode region. However, as in GMA welding, cathodic electron emission of non-refractory metals is involved; the attachment region consists of multiple highly mobile cathode spots, which have a highly concentrated current density, which cannot be explained solely by thermionic emission, as is present in refractory cathodes. In this work, a novel concept is presented to determine the distribution of the cathode spots, allowing to determine the distribution of heat flux and current density, to serve as boundary conditions in a magneto-hydrodynamic weld pool simulation. While the concept does not yet deliver a fully convergent solution, a model lies at its core, which takes into account the experimentally determined high current density and provides a relationship between the cathode surface temperature, the generated heat flux, and the current density. By applying a stochastic cellular automaton method, the weighted random walk of the movement of the cathode spots is simulated, according to a probability determined by the potentially released heat flux. Averaging over time gives a spatially resolved distribution of heat flux and current density.
Superlubricitive engineering—Future industry nearly getting rid of wear and frictional energy consumption
Authors: Luo Jianbin , Zhou Xiang 
Published: June 2020

AbstractSuperlubricity has been developing very rapidly in recent years as a new and important area in tribology. Many new phenomena and materials, as well as some new mechanisms in both liquid and solid superlubricity have been obtained. In liquid superlubricity, tens of new kinds of liquids with superlubricity have been found (e.g., water-based liquids, oil-based lubricants, and liquids combined with additives of two-dimensional (2D) materials that exhibit very good superlubricity properties under high pressure). In the field of solid superlubricity, more materials with superlubricity have been observed, including graphene-to-graphene surfaces, highly oriented pyrolytic graphite to graphene surfaces, and heterostructure surfaces where a friction coefficient as low as 0.00004 has been obtained. However, superlubricity is still under laboratory research. What is the future of superlubricity? What is the barrier restricting superlubricity from industrial applications? How do we transfer superlubricity from scientific research to industrial application? These questions and application fields of superlubricity in near future have been analyzed, and the concept of “superlubricitive engineering” has been proposed in the present work.
Micro- and macrovascular function in patients suffering from primary adrenal insufficiency: a cross-sectional case–control study
Authors: Müller M. , Beiglböck H. , Fellinger P. , Winhofer Y. , Luger A. , Gschwandtner M. , Willfort-Ehringer A. , Koppensteiner R. , Kautzky-Willer A. , Krebs M. , Schlager O. , Wolf P. 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Despite adequate glucocorticoid (GC) and mineralocorticoid (MC) replacement therapy, patients suffering from primary adrenal insufficiency (AI) have an increased mortality, mainly due to cardiovascular diseases. Only little knowledge exists on the contribution of MC substitution to the cardiovascular risk. Therefore, this study investigates the impact of plasma renin concentration on parameters of micro- and macrovascular function.

Methods
26 patients with primary AI [female = 18, age: 51 (28; 78) years; BMI: 24 (18; 40) kg/m2; disease duration: 18 (5; 36) years] were included in this cross-sectional analysis. Intima media thickness (IMT) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were investigated to assess macrovascular remodeling and arterial stiffness. Microvascular function was estimated by post-occlusive reactive hyperemia using laser Doppler fluxmetry. Baseline perfusion, biological zero, peak perfusion, time to peak and recovery time were recorded. Patients were grouped according to their median plasma renin concentration of previous visits (Reninhigh vs Reninlow) and were compared to a group of healthy women [age: 44 (43; 46) years; BMI: 24.2 (21.8; 27.5)].

Results
PWV was significantly higher in AI patients compared to controls [9.9 (5; 18.5) vs 7.3 (6.8; 7.7) m/s; p < .01], whereas no differences in microvascular function could be found. In Reninlow time to peak perfusion was significantly longer [6.0 (3; 15) vs 3.5 (1.5; 11) s; p < .05], whereas no differences in IMT and PWV were observed between Reninhigh and Reninlow. No impact of GC dose was observed.

Conclusions
Microvascular function is not impaired in patients with primary AI under adequate replacement therapy, although higher renin concentrations are associated with subclinical improvements. No relation between RAAS activity and macrovascular function is observed, while arterial stiffness might be increased in primary AI.
A lab test on the decision not to decide
Authors: Schade Christian D. , Snir Avichai 
Published: June 2020

AbstractDecisions are often postponed even when future profits are not expected to compensate for the losses. This is especially relevant for financial and entrepreneurial disinvestment choices, as investors often have a disposition to hold on to losing assets for too long. We use an experiment with real real-options to study one possible behavioral motivation. Studies in psychology suggest that individuals have different styles of handling the stress involved in making decisions. We find that participants' styles of decision-making and risk aversion as well as the interaction of those can assist in predicting the likelihood that the participants will make investments and the timing of their disinvestment decisions. We also find the overall structure of the findings to be in line with a planner–doer model.