bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Correlation among Lens Opacities Classification System III grading, the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire, and Visual Function Index-14 for age-related cataract assessment
Authors: Wan Yu , Wang Yinhao , Zhao Liming , Sun Min , An Li , Yang Yang , Jiang Aimin , Xu Yanhui , Chen Zhimin , Li Xuemin 
Published: April 2020

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate the relationship between cataract types and subjective visual function among patients with age-related cataract.MethodsThis was a prospective, multicenter, 831 Chinese patient-based, cross-sectional study. Patients were administered the Visual Function Index-14 (VF-14) and the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) to evaluate their subjective visual function. Lens Opacities Classification System III (LOCS III) was used to evaluate the type of cataract. Relationships among these parameters were analyzed.ResultsLOCS III cortical (C) and posterior subcapsular scores are negatively associated with VF-14 (r = − 0.188,P < 0.01;r = − 0.146,P < 0.01) and total score of NEI-VFQ-25 (r = − 0.223,P < 0.01;r = − 0.160,P < 0.01), respectively; LOCS III nuclear opalescence (NO) score is positively associated with VF-14 (r = 0.087,P < 0.05) and total score of NEI-VFQ-25 (r = 0.097,P < 0.05). In multiple linear regression, a decrease in the LOCS III C score is a significant predictor for improvement of the total score of NEI-VFQ-25 (β = − 1.286,P < 0.05). In contrast, an increase in LOCS III NO score is a significant predictor for improvement of VF-14 (β = 3.826,P < 0.01) and total score of NEI-VFQ-25 (β = 4.618,P < 0.01). Patients with LOCS III C score ≤ 2 have higher VF-14 (49.38 versus 43.74,P < 0.01), total (80.73 versus 71.58,P < 0.01) and subscale scores of NEI-VFQ-25 than patients with LOCS III C score > 2.ConclusionCortical cataract has adverse effects on subjective visual function, while mild-to-moderate nuclear cataract has positive effects. Furthermore, “LOCS III C score > 2” can be a potential cutoff as a reference for cataract surgery without self-assessing questionnaires.
Regional variability in landscape effects on forest bird communities
Authors: Spake Rebecca , Soga Masashi , Kawamura Kazuhiro , Cooke Robert S. , Yamaura Yuichi , Eigenbrod Felix 
Published: April 2020

AbstractContextFunctional responses to landscape heterogeneity are context-dependent, hampering the transferability of landscape-scale conservation initiatives. Japan provides a unique opportunity to test for regional modification of landscape effects due to its broad temperature gradient, coincident with a gradient of historical disturbance intensity.ObjectivesTo quantify and understand how regional contexts modify forest bird community responses to landscape heterogeneity across Japan.MethodsWe characterised the functional trait composition and diversity of breeding bird communities from 297 forest sites, and applied a cross-scale analytical framework to explain regional variation in community responses.ResultsThe effects of landscape diversity, coincident with forest loss, varied in strength and even direction across the temperature gradient. Cool regions of Japan with highly forested, homogeneous landscapes supported bird communities dominated by forest specialists: those with narrow habitat breadths and insectivorous diets. Warmer regions comprised communities dominated by generalists with wider habitat breadths, even in contiguous, highly forested landscapes. Heterogeneous landscapes selected for generalists, and only promoted functional trait diversity in cool regions where both specialists and generalists can be supplied by a diverse regional pool.ConclusionsOur results provide evidence that regional variation in trait responses to landscape heterogeneity—driven by past environmental filtering and broad-scale climates—leads to differential community responses across Japan. Future research that seeks a nuanced understanding of the regional modification of landscape variables will better serve to inform and target real-world conservation efforts.
Polysomnographic characteristics of severe obstructive sleep apnea vary significantly between hypertensive and normotensive patients of both genders
Authors: Leppänen T. , Kulkas A. , Töyräs J. , Myllymaa S. , Gadoth N. , Oksenberg A. 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Purpose
Hypertension is a common finding in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but it has remained unclear whether or not the amount of disturbed breathing and characteristics of individual respiratory events differ between hypertensive and normotensive patients with severe OSA.

Methods
Full polysomnographic recordings of 323 men and 89 women with severe OSA were analyzed. Differences in the duration of individual respiratory events, total apnea and hypopnea times, and the percentage of disturbed breathing from total sleep time (AHT%) were compared between normotensive and hypertensive patients separately by genders. Furthermore, differences in the respiratory event characteristics were assessed between three AHT% groups (AHT% ≤ 30%, 30% < AHT% ≤ 45%, and AHT% > 45%).

Results
Hypertensive women had lower percentage apnea time (15.2% vs. 18.2%, p = 0.003) and AHT% (33.5% vs. 36.5%, p = 0.021) when compared with normotensive women. However, these differences were not observed between hypertensive and normotensive men. Percentage hypopnea time was higher in hypertensive men (13.5% vs. 11.2%, p = 0.043) but not in women (15.2% vs. 12.2%, p = 0.130) compared with their normotensive counterparts. The variation in AHI explained 60.5% (ρ = 0.778) and 65.0% (ρ = 0.806) of the variation in AHT% in normotensive and hypertensive patients, respectively. However, when AHT% increased, the capability of AHI to explain the variation in AHT% declined.

Conclusions
There is a major inter- and intra-gender variation in percentage apnea and hypopnea times between hypertensive and normotensive patients with severe OSA. OSA is an important risk factor for hypertension and thus, early detection and phenotyping of OSA would allow timely treatment of patients with the highest risk of hypertension.
Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery in Morbidly Obese End-Stage Kidney Disease Patients as Preparation for Kidney Transplantation. Matched Pair Analysis in a High-Volume Bariatric and Transplant Center
Authors: Dobrzycka Małgorzata , Proczko-Stepaniak Monika , Kaska Łukasz , Wilczyński Maciej , Dębska-Ślizień Alicja , Kobiela Jarosław 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background
The number of morbidly obese kidney transplant candidates is growing. They have limited access to kidney transplantation and are at a higher risk of postoperative complications. Bariatric surgery is considered as a safe weight loss method in those patients.

Objectives
Matched pair analysis was designed to analyze the preparatory and postoperative weight loss after bariatric procedures in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and non-ESKD morbidly obese patients.

Methods
Twenty patients with ESKD underwent bariatric surgery in our Centre of Excellence for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery between 2015 and 2019 (nine one-anastomosis gastric bypasses, nine Roux-en-Y gastric bypasses, and two sleeve gastrectomies). They were compared with matched pairs from a dataset of 1199 morbidly obese patients without ESKD. Data on demographic factors and comorbidities was recorded. BMI was obtained at the start of the preparatory period preceding the bariatric procedure, at the time of procedure, and during the 1-year follow-up.

Results
The ESKD and non-ESKD patients did not differ significantly in preoperative weight loss (13.00 ± 11.69 kg and 15.22 ± 15.96 kg respectively, p = 0.619). During the 1-year follow-up, the weight loss was similar to the non-ESKD group. In the first 3 months, faster weight loss in ESKD was observed. Initial and follow-up BMI values did not differ significantly between groups. We demonstrated that obese patients with ESKD can lose weight as effectively as non-ESKD patients.

Conclusion
Morbidly obese ESKD patients have an equal weight loss to patients without ESKD. Bariatric surgery could improve access to kidney transplantation and may potentially improve transplantation outcomes of obese patients with ESKD.
Optimization of delivery adherence based on capacity planning and bid pricing
Authors: Denkena B. , Dittrich M.-A. , Wilmsmeier S. , Stamm S. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractSales revenues of enterprises are often subject to seasonal fluctuation. This leads to high or low utilized resources and this in turn to revenue losses. Hence, the enterprises invest a high effort to improve long and short-term resource utilization. In this context, disregarding future capacity utilization within the process of quotation leads to short-timed capacity adjustments for instance, additional work hours across seasons. This paper presents an approach which focuses on dependencies between costs and capacity by linking cost pricing and production scheduling. A first evaluation at an MTO supplier shows that order delays can be reduced by up to 95% and total costs by 21% compared to using the most appropriate priority rule.
Diagenesis and petrophysical characteristics of the shallow Pliocene sandstone reservoirs in the Shinfas Gas Field, onshore Nile Delta, Egypt
Authors: Leila Mahmoud , Mohamed Ahmed 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe Pliocene Kafr El-Sheikh (KES) Formation in the onshore Nile Delta region hosts numerous shallow gas accumulations. These are readily detected on seismic profiles by definable direct hydrocarbon indicators (DHI). However, the presence of residual gases causes many production failures. Two shallow (< 1500 m) pay zones were investigated in this study; both display seismic flat bright spots. The shallower pay zone (pay zone 1) comprises prograding distributary channel-fill sandstones, whereas the deeper pay zone 2 constitutes the transgressive distal sand bars. Pay zone 1 sandstones have better reservoir quality in terms of porosity (Av. 25.68%), permeability (86 md), water saturation (Av. 43.26%), and hence host thick gas accumulation (~ 15 m) with high net/gross (N/G) ratio ~ 0.98. On the other hand, pay zone 2 has a significant reservoir heterogeneity and contains only residual gases with N/G ratio of 0.26. The eodiagenetic infiltration of clays (Av. 31.46%), authigenic precipitation of glauconite (Av. 7%), and formation of pseudomatrix materials (Av. 2%) in pay zone 2 sandstones have the most detrimental impact on their reservoir quality. Elevated water saturation in pay zone 2 (Av. 64%) reduced the movable hydrocarbon content and results in accumulation of residual gases. Mild mechanical compaction preserved the intergranular porosity of the pay zone 1 sandstones, and incursion of meteoric water facilitated the dissolution of feldspars, the neoformation of secondary pore spaces (Av. 2.9%), and thus increased the reservoir storage and flow capacities. This study highlights that the initial depositional setting of the shallow siliciclastic reservoirs controls their diagenetic pathways and hence their reservoir quality.
Primary cilia mediate Klf2-dependant Notch activation in regenerating heart
Authors: Li Xueyu , Lu Qiang , Peng Yuanyuan , Geng Fang , Shao Xuelian , Zhou Huili , Cao Ying , Zhang Ruilin 
Published: April 2020

AbstractUnlike adult mammalian heart, zebrafish heart has a remarkable capacity to regenerate after injury. Previous study has shown Notch signaling activation in the endocardium is essential for regeneration of the myocardium and this activation is mediated by hemodynamic alteration after injury, however, the molecular mechanism has not been fully explored. In this study we demonstrated that blood flow change could be perceived and transmitted in a primary cilia dependent manner to control the hemodynamic responsive klf2 gene expression and subsequent activation of Notch signaling in the endocardium. First we showed that both homologues of human gene KLF2 in zebrafish, klf2a and klf2b, could respond to hemodynamic alteration and both were required for Notch signaling activation and heart regeneration. Further experiments indicated that the upregulation of klf2 gene expression was mediated by endocardial primary cilia. Overall, our findings reveal a novel aspect of mechanical shear stress signal in activating Notch pathway and regulating cardiac regeneration.
Evolution in the formation of graphene nanocapsules from coal tar pitch
Authors: Puente-Siller D. M. , García-Castillo A. E. , López-Corpus J. A. , Perea-Garduño A. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIt has recently been reported that coal tar pitch (CTP) can be utilised as raw material for the production of graphene nanocapsules (GNCs) because it is formed by a great quantity of aromatic organic compounds (which promote the rearrangement of double bonds by a process of polymerisation). Due to the importance of graphene and the search for a non-expensive methodology to produce it, this work used CTP to synthesise GNCs using an in situ activation technique at low temperatures and evaluating the effect of the working temperature on the formation of such nanostructures. In other words, analysing the form of the particle as the temperature rises from 600 to 900 °C. As result of the experimentation, powders were obtained and analysed by the techniques of X-Ray Diffraction, Raman Spectroscopy and Microscopy, employing Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy by normal mode as well as by Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy and a High-Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy. The results show that working with temperatures between 800 and 850 °C promotes the production of GNCs, considering that their size reduces as the working temperature rises.
Hemostatic efficacy of an advanced bipolar sealer in open gynecologic, thoracic, and colectomy procedures: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Schilder Jeanne , Anderson David , Shah Fatima , Holcomb Bryan , Shah Ahmar , Fullarton Grant , Ashraf Shazad , Fegan Scott , Paterson Hugh , Schwiers Michael L. , Singleton David W. , Waggoner Jason R. , Fryrear Raymond , Robb Bruce W. 
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACT

Background:
An advanced bipolar (ABP) tissue sealer designed for division of major vessels in open procedures was evaluated in a prospective post-market study. The objective was to provide clinical data for assessment of vessel transection, hemostatic performance and ease of use of the ABP device during open colectomy, gynecologic, and thoracic operations.

Materials and methods:
The ABP test device was used in colectomy (n = 36), gynecologic (n = 44), and thoracic (n = 21) procedure groups. Vessels transected with the ABP device were graded intraoperatively on a hemostasis scale of 1–4, defined as follows: Grade1, no bleeding; Grade 2, minor bleeding with no intervention; Grade 3, minor bleeding requiring touchup with the test device or monopolar cautery; and Grade 4, significant bleeding requiring intervention with any additional hemostatic product. The primary performance measure was the percentage of vessels that achieved hemostasis grades ≤3. The primary safety endpoint was the summarization of all ABP device-related adverse events (AEs).

Results:
For all three procedure groups together, 302 (96.2%) of 314 total vessel transections were scored as hemostasis grades ≤ 3, including 270 (86.0%) that were rated Grade 1. Twelve transections (3.8%) were Grade 4, which included 9 vessels transected in the gynecologic group and 3 in the thoracic group. Three subjects experienced a total of 4 device-related AEs, consisting of hematoma, hypotension, procedural pain, and superficial thermal burn. All 4 device-related AEs were mild in severity.

Conclusion:
The advanced bipolar device exhibited effective hemostasis, an acceptable safety profile, and ease of use during colectomy, thoracic, and gynecologic procedures.

Trial registry number:
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT034411.

Highlights:
The incidence and factors associated with failed spinal anesthesia among parturients underwent cesarean section, 2019: A prospective observational study
Authors: Ashagrie Henos Enyew , Ahmed Seid Adem , Melesse Debas Yaregal 
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACT

Background:
Spinal anesthesia is the method of choice for cesarean section as it is associated with low occurrence of intra-operative and post-operative morbidities. Despite this significant move towards spinal anesthesia, it has a risk of failure reported in the range of 1–17%. Failed spinal is a disgusting event for the mother and the anesthetist that may lead to decreased maternal satisfaction and may potentially impact fetal and maternal outcomes.

Objective:
The study was designed to determine the incidence and factors associated with failed spinal anesthesia during cesarean section.

Methods:
A prospective institution based observational study was conducted on 275 parturients from October 1st to December 31st, 2019. After collection, the data was data entered and analyzed by SPSS version 21. The main outcome measure was the incidence of failed spinal anesthesia and the chi-square test was used to compare failure rates and multivariable regression analysis was performed to investigate potential factors.

Results:
The study involved 275 parturients and the overall incidence of failed spinal was 19.5%. Co-morbidity (OR = 9.615; CI = 1.255–7.368), emergency procedure (AOR = 2.191; CI = 1.087–4.417), needle size (2.3; CI = 0.92–0.615), anesthetist's experience (AOR = 4.23; CI = 2.14–8.34), surgeon's experience (AOR = 2.530; CI = 1.319–4.853), bloody CSF flow (AOR = 2.440; CI = 0.103–0.582), and volume of local anesthetics (AOR = 2.781; CI = 1.432–5.398) were significantly associated with failed spinal anesthesia.

Conclusions and recommendations:
The incidence of failed spinal anesthesia was found to be high compared to previous studies. Since the study tried to identify risk factors for failure, we should act accordingly to minimize the failure rate.

Highlights:
Thermal scanning probe lithography—a review
Authors: Howell Samuel Tobias , Grushina Anya , Holzner Felix , Brugger Juergen 
Published: April 2020

AbstractFundamental aspects and state-of-the-art results of thermal scanning probe lithography (t-SPL) are reviewed here. t-SPL is an emerging direct-write nanolithography method with many unique properties which enable original or improved nano-patterning in application fields ranging from quantum technologies to material science. In particular, ultrafast and highly localized thermal processing of surfaces can be achieved through the sharp heated tip in t-SPL to generate high-resolution patterns. We investigate t-SPL as a means of generating three types of material interaction: removal, conversion, and addition. Each of these categories is illustrated with process parameters and application examples, as well as their respective opportunities and challenges. Our intention is to provide a knowledge base of t-SPL capabilities and current limitations and to guide nanoengineers to the best-fitting approach of t-SPL for their challenges in nanofabrication or material science. Many potential applications of nanoscale modifications with thermal probes still wait to be explored, in particular when one can utilize the inherently ultrahigh heating and cooling rates.
Sliding walls: a new paradigm for fluidic actuation and protocol implementation in microfluidics
Authors: Venzac Bastien , Liu Yang , Ferrante Ivan , Vargas Pablo , Yamada Ayako , Courson Rémi , Verhulsel Marine , Malaquin Laurent , Viovy Jean-Louis , Descroix Stéphanie 
Published: April 2020

AbstractCurrently, fluidic control in microdevices is mainly achieved either by external pumps and valves, which are expensive and bulky, or by valves integrated in the chip. Numerous types of internal valves or actuation methods have been proposed, but they generally impose difficult compromises between performance and fabrication complexity. We propose here a new paradigm for actuation in microfluidic devices based on rigid or semi-rigid walls with transversal dimensions of hundreds of micrometres that are able to slide within a microfluidic chip and to intersect microchannels with hand-driven or translation stage-based actuation. With this new concept for reconfigurable microfluidics, the implementation of a wide range of functionalities was facilitated and allowed for no or limited dead volume, low cost and low footprint. We demonstrate here several fluidic operations, including on/off or switch valving, where channels are blocked or reconfigured depending on the sliding wall geometry. The valves sustain pressures up to 30 kPa. Pumping and reversible compartmentalisation of large microfluidic chambers were also demonstrated. This last possibility was applied to a “4D” migration assay of dendritic cells in a collagen gel. Finally, sliding walls containing a hydrogel-based membrane were developed and used to concentrate, purify and transport biomolecules from one channel to another, such functionality involving complex fluidic transport patterns not possible in earlier microfluidic devices. Overall, this toolbox is compatible with “soft lithography” technology, allowing easy implementation within usual fabrication workflows for polydimethylsiloxane chips. This new technology opens the route to a variety of microfluidic applications, with a focus on simple, hand-driven devices for point-of-care or biological laboratories with low or limited equipment and resources.
Automated phenotyping of Caenorhabditis elegans embryos with a high-throughput-screening microfluidic platform
Authors: Baris Atakan Huseyin , Alkanat Tunc , Cornaglia Matteo , Trouillon Raphaël , Gijs Martin A. M. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been extensively used as a model multicellular organism to study the influence of osmotic stress conditions and the toxicity of chemical compounds on developmental and motility-associated phenotypes. However, the several-day culture of nematodes needed for such studies has caused researchers to explore alternatives. In particular, C. elegans embryos, due to their shorter developmental time and immobile nature, could be exploited for this purpose, although usually their harvesting and handling is tedious. Here, we present a multiplexed, high-throughput and automated embryo phenotyping microfluidic approach to observe C. elegans embryogenesis after the application of different chemical compounds. After performing experiments with up to 800 embryos per chip and up to 12 h of time-lapsed imaging per embryo, the individual phenotypic developmental data were collected and analyzed through machine learning and image processing approaches. Our proof-of-concept platform indicates developmental lag and the induction of mitochondrial stress in embryos exposed to high doses (200 mM) of glucose and NaCl, while small doses of sucrose and glucose were shown to accelerate development. Overall, our new technique has potential for use in large-scale developmental biology studies and opens new avenues for very rapid high-throughput and high-content screening using C. elegans embryos.