bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Distinct high-energy cutoff variation patterns in two Seyfert galaxies
Authors: Kang Jia-Lai , Wang Jun-Xian , Kang Wen-Yong 
Published: January 2021

ABSTRACT
Investigating how the cut-off energy Ecut varies with X-ray flux and photon index Γ in individual active galactic nuclei (AGNs) opens a new window to probe the yet unclear coronal physics. So far Ecut variations have only been detected in several AGNs but different patterns have been reported. Here, we report new detections of Ecut variations in two Seyfert galaxies with multiple Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) exposures. While in NGC 3227 Ecut monotonically increases with Γ, the Ecut–Γ relation exhibits a Λ shape in SWIFT J2127.4+5654 (Ecut increasing with Γ at Γ ≲ 2.05, but reversely decreasing at Γ ≳ 2.05), indicating more than a single underlying mechanism is involved. Meanwhile both galaxies show softer spectra while they brighten in X-ray, a common phenomenon in Seyfert galaxies. Plotting all seven AGNs with Ecut variations ever reported with NuSTAR observations in the Ecut–Γ diagram, we find they could be unified with the Λ pattern. Although the sample is small and SWIFT J2127.4+5654 is the only source with Γ varying across the break point thus the only one exhibiting the complete Λ pattern in a single source, the discoveries shed new light on the coronal physics in AGNs. Possible underlying physical mechanisms are discussed.
Pain and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in Aging
Authors: Cardoso Josue , Apagueno Brandon , Lysne Paige , Hoyos Lorraine , Porges Eric , Riley Joseph L , Fillingim Roger B , Woods Adam J , Cohen Ronald , Cruz-Almeida Yenisel 
Published: January 2021

Abstract

Objective
The present study aimed to determine whether specific cognitive domains part of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) are significantly lower in community-dwelling older adults with chronic pain compared with older adults without pain and whether these domains would be associated with self-reported pain, disability, and somatosensory function.

Design
Secondary data analysis, cross-sectional.

Setting
University of Florida.

Subjects
Individuals over 60 years old enrolled in the Neuromodulatory Examination of Pain and mobility Across the Lifespan (NEPAL) study were included if they completed the MoCA and other study measures (n = 62). Most participants reported pain on most days during the past three months (63%).

Methods
Subjects underwent a health assessment (HAS) and a quantitative sensory testing (QST) session. Health/medical history, cognitive function and self-reported pain measures were administered during the HAS. Mechanical and thermal detection, and thermal pain thresholds were assessed during the QST session.

Results
Older adults with chronic pain had lower MoCA scores compared with controls on domains of executive function, attention, memory, and language (P &lt; 0.05). The attention and language domains survived adjustments for age, sex, education, depression, and pain duration (P &lt; 0.05). Attention was significantly associated with all pain characteristics including pain intensity and disability, while executive function was associated with mechanical detection (P &lt; 0.05).

Conclusion
Our results support previous findings that individuals with chronic pain tend to show poorer cognitive functioning compared with pain-free controls in domains of attention and executive function. Our findings also extend these findings to community-dwelling older adults, who are already most vulnerable to age-related cognitive declines.
Preoperative Assessment of Geriatric Surgical Patients: Update on Clinical Scales Used for Elective General and Digestive Surgery
Authors: Gené Clara , Senti Sara , Parrales Mauricio , Troya José , Fernández-Llamazares Jaume , Julián Joan-Francesc , Parés David 
Published: January 2021

Background:
Higher life expectancy in the general population entails a growing interest in the surgical management of diseases affecting elderly patients. Preoperative assessment when planning surgery needs to carefully evaluate physical and functional status of the patient. This review aims to describe the most commonly used scales in the evaluation of elderly patients scheduled for surgery and provides a useful tool to decide the scales that would be better to assess these specific patients.

Methods:
According to the PRISMA statement of publications published, we have carried out a systematic review focused on elderly patients who underwent surgical procedures in General and Surgery. Using Medline, Embase, and Cochrane library, a systematic search of the literature from 1992 to 2018 was performed. This enabled us to retrieve information from the selected articles on scales to evaluate medical fitness, functional status, or both, in the elderly or frail patients.

Results:
We reviewed 102 articles and selected the most frequently used assessment scales or indexes. After this extensive analysis, we selected 4 functional scales (Katz Index, Barthel Scale, Karnofsky Performance Score, and Vulnerable Elders Survey), 4 clinical scales (American Society of Anaesthesiologists Index, Charlson Comorbidity Index, Pfeiffer Test, and Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enumeration of Mortality and Morbidity Scale) and finally, 2 mixed scales (American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Surgical Risk Calculator and Edmonton Frail Scale).

Conclusions:
No consensus on the use of a unified assessment scale for elderly patients exists. However, with this review, we provide a brief guideline about the most useful and used scales to perform a comprehensive assessment of geriatric patients undergoing surgery.
Psychophysical study of the moon illusion in paintings and landscape photos
Authors: Kovács Zoltán , Udvarnoki Zoltán , Papp Eszter , Horváth Gábor 
Published: January 2021

The moon illusion is a visual deception when people perceive the angular diameter of the Moon/Sun near the horizon larger than that of the one higher in the sky. Some theories have been proposed to explain this illusion, but not any is generally accepted. Although several psychophysical experiments have been performed to study different aspects of the moon illusion, their results have sometimes contradicted each other. Artists frequently display(ed) the Moon/Sun in their paintings. If the Moon/Sun appears near the horizon, its painted disc is often exaggeratedly large. How great is the magnitude of moon illusion of painters? How different are the size enlargements of depicted lunar/solar discs? To answer these questions, we measured these magnitudes on 100 paintings collected from the period of 1534–2017. In psychophysical experiments, we also investigated the moon illusion of 10 test persons who had to estimate the size of the lunar/solar disc on 100 paintings and 100 landscape photographs from which the Moon/Sun was retouched. Compared to the lunar/solar disc calculated from reference distances estimated by test persons in paintings, painters overestimated the Moon's size on average
Q
= 2.1 ± 1.6 times, while the Sun was painted
Q
= 1.8 ± 1.2 times larger than the real one, where
Q
=
r
painted
/
r
real
is the ratio of the radii of painted (
r
painted
) and real (
r
real
) Moons/Suns. In landscape photos, test persons overestimated the Moon's size
Q
= 1.6 ± 0.4 times and the Sun was assumed
Q
= 1.7 ± 0.5 times larger than in reality, where
Q
=
r
test
/
r
real
is the ratio of the radius
r
test
estimated by the test persons and the real radius
r
real
of Moons/Suns. The majority of the magnitude of moon illusion
Q
= 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 2.1, 2.8, 2.9 measured by us are larger than the
Q
-values 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.8 obtained in previous psychophysical experiments due to methodological differences.
Prior Bariatric Surgery in COVID-19 Positive Patients May Be Protective
Authors: Jenkins Megan , Maranga Gabrielle , Wood G. Craig , Petrilli Christopher M. , Ren-Fielding Christine 
Published: January 2021

IntroductionPatients infected with novel COVID-19 virus have a spectrum of illnesses ranging from asymptomatic to death. Data has shown that age, gender and obesity are strongly correlated with poor outcomes in COVID-19 positive patients. Bariatric surgery is the only treatment that provides significant, sustained weight loss in the severely obese. We look at whether prior bariatric surgery correlates with increased risk of hospitalization and outcome severity after COVID-19 infection.MethodsA cross-sectional retrospective analysis of a COVID-19 database from a single, NYC-based, academic institution was conducted. A cohort of COVID-19 positive patients with a history of bariatric surgery (n=124) were matched in a 4:1 ratio to a control cohort of COVID-19 positive patients who were eligible for bariatric surgery (BMI ≥40 kg/m2 or BMI ≥35 kg/m2 with a comorbidity) (n=496). A comparison of outcomes, including mechanical ventilation requirements and deceased at discharge, was done between cohorts using Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. Additionally, overall length of stay and duration of time in ICU were compared using Wilcoxon Rank Sum test. Conditional logistic regression analyses were done to determine both unadjusted (UOR) and adjusted odds ratios (AOR).ResultsA total of 620 COVID-19 positive patients were included in this analysis. The categorization of bariatric surgeries included 36% Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB, n=45), 35% laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB, n=44), and 28% laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG, n=35). The body mass index (BMI) for the bariatric group was 36.1 kg/m2 (SD=8.3), which was significantly lower than the control group, 41.4 kg/m2 (SD=6.5) (p<0.0001). There was also less burden of diabetes in the bariatric group (32%) compared to the control group (48%) (p=0.0019). Patients with a history of bariatric surgery were less likely to be admitted through the emergency room (UOR=0.39, p=0.0001), less likely to have had a ventilator used during the admission (UOR=0.42, p=0.028), had a shorter length of stay in both the ICU (p=0.033) and overall (UOR=0.44, p=0.0002), and were less likely to be deceased at discharge compared to the control group (OR=0.42, p=0.028).ConclusionA history of bariatric surgery significantly decreases the risk of emergency room admission, mechanical ventilation, prolonged ICU stay, and death in patients with COVID-19.
Hospitalization as reliable indicator of second wave COVID-19 pandemic in eight European countries
Authors: Allieta Mattia , Sebastiano Davide Rossi 
Published: January 2021

AbstractTime dependent reproduction number (Rt) is one of the most popular parameters to track the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. However, especially at the initial stages, Rt can be highly underestimated because of remarkable differences between the actual number of infected people and the daily incidence of people who are tested positive. Here, we present the analysis of daily cumulative number of hospitalized (HP) and intensive care unit (ICU) patients both in space and in time in the early phases of second wave COVID-19 pandemic across eight different European countries, namely Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and United Kingdom. We derive simple model equations to fit the time dependence of these two variables where exponential behavior is observed. Growth rate constants of HP and ICU are listed, providing country-specific parameters able to estimate the burden of SARS-COV-2 infection before extensive containment measures take place. Our quantitative parameters, fully related to hospitalizations, are disentangled from the capacity range of the screening campaign, for example the number of swabs, and they cannot be directly biased by the actual number of infected people. This approach can give an array of reliable indicators which can be used by governments and healthcare systems to monitor the dynamics of COVID-19 epidemic.
Prediction of COVID-19 Pandemic of Top Ten Countries in the World Establishing a Hybrid AARNN LTM Model
Authors: Gahan Padmabati , Pattnaik Monalisha , Nayak Agnibrata , Roul Monee Kieran 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe novel COVID-19 global pandemic has become a public health emergency of international concern affecting 215 countries and territories around the globe. As of 28 November 2020, it has caused a pandemic outbreak with a total of more than 6,171,5119 confirmed infections and more than 1,44,4235 confirmed deaths reported worldwide. The main focus of this paper is to generate LTM real-time out of sample forecasts of the future COVID-19 confirmed and death cases respectively for the top ten profoundly affected countries including for the world. To solve this problem we introduced a novel hybrid approach AARNN model based on ARIMA and ARNN forecasting model that can generate LTM (fifty days ahead) out of sample forecasts of the number of daily confirmed and death COVID-19 cases for the ten countries namely USA, India, Brazil, Russia, France, Spain, UK, Italy, Argentina, Colombia and also for the world respectively. The predictions of the future outbreak for different countries will be useful for the effective allocation of health care resources and will act as early-warning system for health warriors, corporate leaders, economists, government/public-policy makers, and scientific experts.
Empty Streets, Speeding and Motor Vehicle Collisions during Covid-19 Lockdowns: Evidence from Northern Ireland
Authors: Vandoros Sotiris , Papailias Fotis 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCovid-19 and lockdowns have had spillover effects on other health outcomes. Motor vehicle collisions (MVC) are likely to have been affected by the pandemic due to, among others, less traffic volume and speeding on empty streets. This paper studies the impact of the pandemic on MVCs in Northern Ireland. Using monthly data on injuries and deaths, we find a steep decline in slight and serious injuries compared to what would have been expected in the absence of the pandemic. However, we find no effect on the number of deaths. Based on data from speeding tickets, a plausible explanation for the differential effect on the number of injuries and deaths is speeding on empty streets during the pandemic.
COVID-HEART: Development and Validation of a Multi-Variable Model for Real-Time Prediction of Cardiovascular Complications in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19
Authors: Shade Julie K. , Doshi Ashish N. , Sung Eric , Popescu Dan M. , Minhas Anum S. , Gilotra Nisha A. , Aronis Konstantinos N. , Hays Allison G. , Trayanova Natalia A. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCardiovascular (CV) manifestations of COVID-19 infection carry significant morbidity and mortality. Current risk prediction for CV complications in COVID-19 is limited and existing approaches fail to account for the dynamic course of the disease. Here, we develop and validate the COVID-HEART predictor, a novel continuously-updating risk prediction technology to forecast CV complications in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The risk predictor is trained and tested with retrospective registry data from 2178 patients to predict two outcomes: cardiac arrest and imaging-confirmed thromboembolic events. In repeating model validation many times, we show that it predicts cardiac arrest with an average median early warning time of 18 hours (IQR: 13-20 hours) and an AUROC of 0.92 (95% CI: 0.91-0.92), and thromboembolic events with a median early warning time of 72 hours (IQR: 12-204 hours) and an AUROC of 0.70 (95% CI: 0.67-0.73). The COVID-HEART predictor is anticipated to provide tangible clinical decision support in triaging patients and optimizing resource utilization, with its clinical utility potentially extending well beyond COVID-19.
Rejuveinix Mitigates Sepsis-Associated Oxidative Stress in the Brain of Mice: Clinical Impact Potential in COVID-19 and Nervous System Disorders
Authors: Uckun Fatih M. , Tuzcu Mehmet , Gitterle Marcus , Volk Michael , Sahin Kazim 
Published: January 2021

AbstractHere, we demonstrate that our anti-sepsis and COVID-19 drug candidate Rejuveinix (RJX) substantially improves the survival outcome in the LPS-GalN animal model of sepsis and multi-organ failure. One hundred (100) percent (%) of untreated control mice remained alive throughout the experiment. By comparison, 100% of LPS-GalN injected mice died at a median of 4.6 hours. In contrast to the invariably fatal treatment outcome of vehicle-treated control mice, 40% of mice treated with RJX (n=25) remained alive with a 2.4-fold longer median time survival time of 10.9 hours (Log-rank X2=20.60, P<0.0001). Notably, RJX increased the tissue levels of antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px, and reduced oxidative stress in the brain. These findings demonstrate the clinical impact potential of RJX as a neuroprotective COVID-19 and sepsis drug candidate.
The impact of vitamin D supplementation on mortality rate and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Nikniaz Leila , Akbarzadeh Mohammad Amin , Hosseinifard Hossein , Hosseini Mohammad-Salar 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundSeveral studies have suggested the positive impact of vitamin D on patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on clinical outcomes and mortality rate of COVID-19 patients.MethodsA comprehensive search was conducted through the databases of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, Embase, Ovid, and The Cochrane Library with no limitation in time and language, until December 16, 2020. The results were screened based on their accordance with the subject. Two independent reviewers selected the eligible studies and the outcomes of interest were extracted. Using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tools for Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and Quasi-Experimental Studies, the remaining results were appraised critically. Statistical analysis was performed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software version 2.0.ResultsOf the 2311 results, 1305 duplicated results were removed. After screening the titles, abstracts, and the full-text articles of the remaining records, four studies and 259 patients were enrolled, including 139 patients in vitamin D intervention groups. In three of the studies, the patients’ survival and mortality rate were evaluated. The pooled analysis of these studies showed a significantly lower mortality rate among the intervention groups (10.56%) compared with the control groups (23.88%) (OR = 0.264, 95% CI = 0.099–0.708, p-value = 0.008). Two of the studies reported the clinical outcomes based on the World Health Organization’s Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement (OSCI) score for COVID-19, where both of them showed a significant decrease in OSCI score in the vitamin D intervention groups. Additionally, One study reported a lower rate of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and one study reported a significant decrease in serum levels of Fibrinogen.ConclusionPrescribing vitamin D supplementation to patients with COVID-19 infection seems to decrease the mortality rate, the severity of the disease, and serum levels of the inflammatory markers. Further studies are needed to determine the ideal type, dosage and duration of supplementation.
Antithrombotic Therapy in COVID-19: Systematic Summary of Ongoing or Completed Randomized Trials
Authors: Talasaz Azita H. , Sadeghipour Parham , Kakavand Hessam , Aghakouchakzadeh Maryam , Kordzadeh-Kermani Elaheh , Van Tassell Benjamin W. , Gheymati Azin , Ariannejad Hamid , Hosseini Seyed Hossein , Jamalkhani Sepehr , Sholzberg Michelle , Monreal Manuel , Jimenez David , Piazza Gregory , Parikh Sahil A. , Kirtane Ajay , Eikelboom John W. , Connors Jean M. , Hunt Beverley J. , Konstantinides Stavros V. , Cushman Mary , Weitz Jeffrey I. , Stone Gregg W. , Krumholz Harlan M. , Lip Gregory Y.H. , Goldhaber Samuel Z. , Bikdeli Behnood 
Published: January 2021

ABSTRACTEndothelial injury and microvascular/macrovascular thrombosis are common pathophysiologic features of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). However, the optimal thromboprophylactic regimens remain unknown across the spectrum of illness severity of COVID-19. A variety of antithrombotic agents, doses and durations of therapy are being assessed in ongoing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that focus on outpatients, hospitalized patients in medical wards, and critically-ill patients with COVID-19. This manuscript provides a perspective of the ongoing or completed RCTs related to antithrombotic strategies used in COVID-19, the opportunities and challenges for the clinical trial enterprise, and areas of existing knowledge, as well as data gaps that may motivate the design of future RCTs.
The Effect of Frames on COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy
Authors: Palm Risa , Bolsen Toby , Kingsland Justin T. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn order to control the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, it will be important to develop a communication strategy to counteract “vaccine hesitancy”. This paper reports the results of a survey experiment testing the impacts of several types of message content: the safety and efficacy of the vaccine itself, the likelihood that others will take the vaccine, and the possible role of politics in promoting the vaccine. In an original survey of 1123 American M-Turk respondents, we provided six different information conditions suggesting the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, the lack of safety/efficacy of the vaccine, the suggestion that most others would take the vaccine, the suggestion that most others would not take the vaccine, the suggestion that the vaccine is being promoted to gain greater control over individual freedom, and the suggestion that it is being rushed for political motivations. We compared the responses for those in the treatment groups with a control group who received no additional information. In comparison to the control group, those who received information about the safety/efficacy of the vaccine were more likely to report that they would take the vaccine, those who received information that others were reluctant to take the vaccine were more likely to report that they themselves would not take it, that other Americans would not take it, and that it was not important to get the vaccine, and those who received information about political influences on vaccine development expressed hesitancy to take it. Communication of effective messages about the vaccine will be essential for public health agencies that seek to promote vaccine take-up.