bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Racial Disparity in Liver Transplantation Listing
Authors: Warren Curtis , Carpenter Anne-Marie , Neal Daniel , Andreoni Kenneth , Sarosi George , Zarrinpar Ali 
Published: January 2021

BACKGROUND:
Previous studies have demonstrated disparities in transplantation for women, non-Caucasians, the uninsured or publicly insured, and rural populations. We sought to correlate transplant center characteristics with patient access to the waiting list and liver transplantation.
We hypothesized that liver transplant centers vary greatly in providing equitable access to the waiting list and liver transplantation.

STUDY DESIGN:
Center-specific, adult, deceased-donor liver transplant and waitlist data for the years 2013 to 2018 were obtained from the United Network for Organ Sharing. Waitlist race/ethnicity distributions from liver transplant centers performing ≥ 250 transplants over this period (n = 109) were compared with those of their donor service area, as calculated from 5-year US Census Bureau estimates of 2017. Center-specific characteristics correlating with disparities were analyzed using a linear regression model with a log transformed outcome.

RESULTS:
Non-Hispanic Blacks (NHBs) are under-represented in liver transplant listing compared with center donation service area (88/109, 81%), whereas, non-Hispanic Whites are over-represented (65/109, 58%) (p < 0.0001). Hispanics were also under-represented on the waitlist at the majority of transplant centers (68/109, 62%) (p = 0.02). Although the racial/ethnic distribution of transplantation is more reflective of the waitlist, there is a higher than expected rate of transplantation for NHBs compared to the waitlist. Predictors of disparity in listing include percentage of transplant recipients at the center who had private insurance, racial composition of the donation service area, and the distance recipients had to travel for transplant.

CONCLUSIONS:
Non-Hispanic Blacks are listed for liver transplantation less than would be expected. Once listed, however, racial disparities in transplantation are greatly diminished. Improvements in access to adequate health insurance appear to be essential to diminishing disparities in access to this life-saving care.
Analysis of the Plasma Metabolome after Trauma, Novel Circulating Sphingolipid Signatures, and In-Hospital Outcomes
Authors: Cyr Anthony , Zhong Yanjun , Reis Steven E. , Namas Rami A. , Amoscato Andrew , Zuckerbraun Brian , Sperry Jason , Zamora Ruben , Vodovotz Yoram , Billiar Timothy R. 
Published: January 2021

BACKGROUND:
Trauma is the leading cause of death and disability for individuals under age 55. Many severely injured trauma patients experience complicated clinical courses despite appropriate initial therapy. We sought to identify novel circulating metabolomic signatures associated with clinical outcomes following trauma.

STUDY DESIGN:
Untargeted metabolomics and circulating plasma immune mediator analysis was performed on plasma collected during 3 post-injury time periods (<6 hours [h], 6 h–24h, day 2–day 5) in critically ill trauma patients enrolled between April 2004 and May 2013 at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. Inclusion criteria were age ≥ 18 years, blunt mechanism, ICU admission, and expected survival ≥ 24 h. Exclusion criteria were isolated head injury, spinal cord injury, and pregnancy. Exploratory endpoints included length of stay (overall and ICU), ventilator requirements, nosocomial infection, and Marshall organ dysfunction (MOD) score. The top 50 metabolites were isolated using repeated measures ANOVA and multivariate empirical Bayesian analysis for further study.

RESULTS:
Eighty-six patients were included for analysis. Sphingolipids were enriched significantly (chi-square, p < 10-6) among the top 50 metabolites. Clustering of sphingolipid patterns identified 3 patient subclasses: nonresponders (no time-dependent change in sphingolipids, n = 41), sphingosine/sphinganine-enhanced (n = 24), and glycosphingolipid-enhanced (n = 21). Compared with the sphingolipid-enhanced subclasses, nonresponders had longer mean length of stay, more ventilator days, higher MOD scores, and higher circulating levels of proinflammatory immune mediators IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, MCP1/CCL2, IP10/CXCL10, and MIG/CXCL9 (all p < 0.05), despite similar Injury Severity Scores (p = 0.12).

CONCLUSIONS:
Metabolomic analysis identified broad alterations in circulating plasma sphingolipids after blunt trauma. Circulating sphingolipid signatures and their association with both clinical outcomes and circulating inflammatory mediators suggest a possible link between sphingolipid metabolism and the immune response to trauma.
Validation of a 3D‐printed human temporal bone model for otology surgical skill training
Authors: Chien Wade W. , da Cruz Melville J. , Francis Howard W. 
Published: January 2021

HypothesisThree‐dimensional (3D) printed temporal bones are comparable to cadaveric temporal bones as a training tool for otologic surgery.BackgroundCadaveric temporal bone dissection is an integral part of otology surgical training. Unfortunately, availability of cadaveric temporal bones is becoming much more limited and concern regarding chemical and biological risks persist. In this study, we examine the validity of 3D‐printed temporal bone model as an alternative training tool for otologic surgery.MethodsSeventeen otolaryngology trainees participated in the study. They were asked to complete a series of otologic procedures using 3D‐printed temporal bones. A semi‐structured questionnaire was used to evaluate their dissection experience on the 3D‐printed temporal bones.ResultsParticipants found that the 3D‐printed temporal bones were anatomically realistic compared to cadaveric temporal bones. They found that the 3D‐printed temporal bones were useful as a surgical training tool in general and also for specific otologic procedures. Overall, participants were enthusiastic about incorporation of 3D‐printed temporal bones in temporal bone dissection training courses and would recommend them to other trainees.Conclusion3D‐printed temporal bone model is a viable alternative to human cadaveric temporal bones as a teaching tool for otologic surgery.
Accounting for Skewed or One-Sided Measurement Error in the Dependent Variable
Authors: Millimet Daniel L. , Parmeter Christopher F. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWhile classical measurement error in the dependent variable in a linear regression framework results only in a loss of precision, nonclassical measurement error can lead to estimates, which are biased and inference which lacks power. Here, we consider a particular type of nonclassical measurement error: skewed errors. Unfortunately, skewed measurement error is likely to be a relatively common feature of many outcomes of interest in political science research. This study highlights the bias that can result even from relatively “small” amounts of skewed measurement error, particularly, if the measurement error is heteroskedastic. We also assess potential solutions to this problem, focusing on the stochastic frontier model and Nonlinear Least Squares. Simulations and three replications highlight the importance of thinking carefully about skewed measurement error as well as appropriate solutions.
DIVISIBILITY OF CERTAIN SINGULAR OVERPARTITIONS BY POWERS OF
AND
Authors: SINGH AJIT , BARMAN RUPAM 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAndrews introduced the partition function

$\overline {C}_{k, i}(n)$
, called the singular overpartition function, which counts the number of overpartitions of n in which no part is divisible by k and only parts

$\equiv \pm i\pmod {k}$
may be overlined. We prove that

$\overline {C}_{6, 2}(n)$
is almost always divisible by

$2^k$
for any positive integer k. We also prove that

$\overline {C}_{6, 2}(n)$
and

$\overline {C}_{12, 4}(n)$
are almost always divisible by

$3^k$
. Using a result of Ono and Taguchi on nilpotency of Hecke operators, we find infinite families of congruences modulo arbitrary powers of

$2$
satisfied by

$\overline {C}_{6, 2}(n)$
.
The longitudinal associations between trajectory of and quantity of alcohol consumption and subsequent changes in blood pressure levels among non-hypertensive adults
Authors: Jung Sukyoung , Kim Mi Kyung , Shin Jinho , Choi Bo Youl , Lee Young-Hoon , Shin Dong Hoon , Shin Min-Ho 
Published: January 2021

AbstractGiven the dynamic characteristic of an individual’s drinking behaviours, comprehensive consideration of alcohol consumption variation using repeated measures may improve insight into the nature of its association with blood pressure (BP) change. We examined the association between longitudinal alcohol consumption (trajectory and quantity) and changes in BP and pulse pressure (PP) among Korean aged ≥ 40 years living in rural areas. Totally, 1682 hypertension-free participants who completed all three health examinations (median, 5·3 years) were included. All three visits were used to determine the cumulative trajectory of and quantity of alcohol consumption and the latest two visits and the last visit were used for the recent trajectory and the most recent quantity of alcohol consumption, respectively. Changes in BP and PP from the baseline to the third visit were used as outcome. In men, ≥30 ml/d cumulative average alcohol consumption was associated with the greatest increase in systolic BP (SBP) in both baseline outcome-unadjusted (2·9 mmHg, P = 0·032) and -adjusted models (3·6 mmHg, P = 0·001), and the given association for the most recent alcohol consumption was observed in the baseline outcome-adjusted model (3·9 mmHg, P = 0·003). For PP, similar associations were observed only in the baseline outcome-adjusted model. No meaningful associations in diastolic BP in men and any BP or PP in women existed. The quantity of alcohol consumption rather than the trajectory may be significantly related to raised SBP, and a possible short-term influence of the most recent alcohol consumption may exist when baseline SBP is adjusted in men.
Boxes, extended boxes and sets of positive upper density in the Euclidean space
Authors: DURCIK POLONA , KOVAČ VJEKOSLAV 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWe prove that sets with positive upper Banach density in sufficiently large dimensions contain congruent copies of all sufficiently large dilates of three specific higher-dimensional patterns. These patterns are: 2n vertices of a fixed n-dimensional rectangular box, the same vertices extended with n points completing three-term arithmetic progressions, and the same vertices extended with n points completing three-point corners. Our results provide common generalizations of several Euclidean density theorems from the literature.
Cobra-head and other shape-memory abnormalities of nitinol atrial septal occluders: incidence, predisposing factors, and outcomes
Authors: Sonawane Bhushan S. , Sagar Pramod , Mohakud Asish R. , Rohitraj Gopalavilasam R. , Wadile Santosh , Sivakumar Kothandam 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackground:Shape-memory abnormalities are seen in some nitinol atrial septal occluders. Variably described as cobra-head, tulip, and others, their incidence, mechanisms, clinical impact, and outcome have not been systematically analysed.Methods:We retrospectively reviewed all consecutive device closures in the last 6 years for deformations. Type and size of the occluder, deployment technique, size, and angulation/kinking of the delivery sheath were analysed. Procedural success, duration, and other complications were studied.Results:A total of 112 devices (11.8%) among 950 occluders used in 936 patients showed deformities. Fourteen of 936 received 2 devices. Deformities were transient and self-correcting in 40%. Multivariate analysis showed significant associations with oversized sheaths (p = 0.004), kinked/angulated sheaths (p < 0.001), special deployment techniques (p < 0.001), and twist in the device waist (p = 0.011). Despite more frequent deformities with Figulla (15.6%) and Amplatzer (13.9%) occluders than Cera occluders (6.6%) and larger devices (>24 mm – 14.6%) than smaller devices (less than or equal to 24 mm – 9.7%), they were not significant on multivariate analysis. In vivo manipulations corrected most deformities; nineteen needed in vitro reformations and four needed a change of device. Despite prolongation of the procedure, repeated attempts (mean 2.76 ± 1.7 attempts, with a range from 1 to 9 attempts), and supraventricular tachycardia in two patients, there were no serious adverse effects.Conclusions:Deformations were frequent in 11.8% of atrial septal occluders on a targeted search. Oversized and angulated/kinked sheaths, special techniques like pulmonary vein deployment and twist in device waist during procedure predisposed to deformities. While most deformities were corrected with manipulations, removal of the device was infrequently needed and change of device was rarely required. Long procedural time and multiple attempts for deployment did not affect procedural success.
The Impact of Memory Change on Everyday Life Among Older Adults: Association with Cognition and Self-Reported Memory
Authors: Shaikh Komal T. , Tatham Erica L. , Vandermorris Susan , Paterson Theone , Stokes Kathryn , Freedman Morris , Levine Brian , Rich Jill B. , Troyer Angela K. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractObjectives:Many older adults experience memory changes that can have a meaningful impact on their everyday lives, such as restrictions to lifestyle activities and negative emotions. Older adults also report a variety of positive coping responses that help them manage these changes. The purpose of this study was to determine how objective cognitive performance and self-reported memory are related to the everyday impact of memory change.Methods:We examined these associations in a sample of 94 older adults (age 60–89, 52% female) along a cognitive ability continuum from normal cognition to mild cognitive impairment.Results:Correlational analyses revealed that greater restrictions to lifestyle activities (|rs| = .36–.66), more negative emotion associated with memory change (|rs| = .27–.76), and an overall greater burden of memory change on everyday living (|rs| = .28–.61) were associated with poorer objective memory performance and lower self-reported memory ability and satisfaction. Performance on objective measures of executive attention was unrelated to the impact of memory change. Self-reported strategy use was positively related to positive coping with memory change (|r| = .26), but self-reported strategy use was associated with more negative emotions regarding memory change (|r| = .23).Conclusions:Given the prevalence of memory complaints among older adults, it is important to understand the experience of memory change and its impact on everyday functioning in order to develop services that target the specific needs of this population.
The Agadir Agreement: The Capability Traps of Isomorphic Mimicry
Authors: Kourtelis Christos 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn 2004, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, and Jordan signed the Agadir Agreement (AA), a free trade agreement with intention of encouraging closer cooperation in trade. The AA came into force in 2007 and relies on the EU's rules of origin. Contrary to existing explanations, which suggest that the little impact of the AA on intraregional trade is a result of the local political elites in the agreement and of weak state institutions, this article amends the concept of isomorphic mimicry to shed some light on the ineffectiveness of the AA. It claims that instead of acting as a vehicle for regional integration, the AA generated two capability traps: premature load bearing and the reproduction of the structural weaknesses of Arab Mediterranean economies. As a result, the AA does not act as an instrument of intraregional cooperation and inclusive growth.
Diabatic heating governs the seasonality of the Atlantic Niño
Authors: Nnamchi Hyacinth C. , Latif Mojib , Keenlyside Noel S. , Kjellsson Joakim , Richter Ingo 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe Atlantic Niño is the leading mode of interannual sea-surface temperature (SST) variability in the equatorial Atlantic and assumed to be largely governed by coupled ocean-atmosphere dynamics described by the Bjerknes-feedback loop. However, the role of the atmospheric diabatic heating, which can be either an indicator of the atmosphere’s response to, or its influence on the SST, is poorly understood. Here, using satellite-era observations from 1982–2015, we show that diabatic heating variability associated with the seasonal migration of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone controls the seasonality of the Atlantic Niño. The variability in precipitation, a measure of vertically integrated diabatic heating, leads that in SST, whereas the atmospheric response to SST variability is relatively weak. Our findings imply that the oceanic impact on the atmosphere is smaller than previously thought, questioning the relevance of the classical Bjerknes-feedback loop for the Atlantic Niño and limiting climate predictability over the equatorial Atlantic sector.
Structure of a full-length bacterial polysaccharide co-polymerase
Authors: Wiseman Benjamin , Nitharwal Ram Gopal , Widmalm Göran , Högbom Martin 
Published: January 2021

AbstractLipopolysaccharides are important components of the bacterial cell envelope that among other things act as a protective barrier against the environment and toxic molecules such as antibiotics. One of the most widely disseminated pathways of polysaccharide biosynthesis is the inner membrane bound Wzy-dependent pathway. Here we present the 3.0 Å structure of the co-polymerase component of this pathway, WzzB from E. coli solved by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy. The overall architecture is octameric and resembles a box jellyfish containing a large bell-shaped periplasmic domain with the 2-helix transmembrane domain from each protomer, positioned 32 Å apart, encircling a large empty transmembrane chamber. This structure also reveals the architecture of the transmembrane domain, including the location of key residues for the Wzz-family of proteins and the Wzy-dependent pathway present in many Gram-negative bacteria, explaining several of the previous biochemical and mutational studies and lays the foundation for future investigations.
From Ru-bda to Ru-bds: a step forward to highly efficient molecular water oxidation electrocatalysts under acidic and neutral conditions
Authors: Yang Jing , Wang Lei , Zhan Shaoqi , Zou Haiyuan , Chen Hong , Ahlquist Mårten S. G. , Duan Lele , Sun Licheng 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSignificant advances during the past decades in the design and studies of Ru complexes with polypyridine ligands have led to the great development of molecular water oxidation catalysts and understanding on the O−O bond formation mechanisms. Here we report a Ru-based molecular water oxidation catalyst [Ru(bds)(pic)2] (Ru-bds; bds2− = 2,2′-bipyridine-6,6′-disulfonate) containing a tetradentate, dianionic sulfonate ligand at the equatorial position and two 4-picoline ligands at the axial positions. This Ru-bds catalyst electrochemically catalyzes water oxidation with turnover frequencies (TOF) of 160 and 12,900 s−1 under acidic and neutral conditions respectively, showing much better performance than the state-of-art Ru-bda catalyst. Density functional theory calculations reveal that (i) under acidic conditions, the high valent Ru intermediate RuV=O featuring the 7-coordination configuration is involved in the O−O bond formation step; (ii) under neutral conditions, the seven-coordinate RuIV=O triggers the O−O bond formation; (iii) in both cases, the I2M (interaction of two M−O units) pathway is dominant over the WNA (water nucleophilic attack) pathway.
Salivary cortisol is associated with cognitive changes in patients with fibromyalgia
Authors: Lin Yi-Ju , Ko Yu-Chieh , Chow Lok-Hi , Hsiao Fu-Jung , Liu Hung-Yu , Wang Pei-Ning , Chen Wei-Ta 
Published: January 2021

AbstractFibromyalgia (FM) is a stress-related chronic pain disorder with common cognitive complaints. This study characterized cognitive dysfunction in patients with FM and explored whether these changes are linked to altered cortisol levels. Consecutive 44 patients with FM and 48 healthy controls were enrolled for the assessments of subjective and objective cognitive functions and diurnal levels of salivary cortisol (sampled at awakening, 30 min after awakening, 3 pm, and bedtime). All measurements were compared between the groups and evaluated for clinical correlation. The FM group had more subjective cognitive complaints and performed poorer in objective cognitive testing in memory (delayed recall in Chinese Version Verbal Learning Test and Taylor Complex Figure Test), language (Boston Naming Test), and executive domains (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test) after adjustments for education. The diurnal cortisol levels of patients with FM tended to be lower, especially at 30 min after awakening and bedtime. Moreover, moderate positive correlations existed between the Chinese Version Verbal Learning Test, Boston Naming Test and the morning cortisol levels within the FM group. We suggested the altered cognitive function in FM may be linked to stress maladaptation. Future studies are warranted to elucidate whether stress management improves cognitive performance in patients with FM.
The adverse events of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation are associated with gene polymorphism within human leukocyte antigen region
Authors: Chen Ding-Ping , Wen Ying-Hao , Wang Po-Nan , Hour Ai-Ling , Lin Wei-Tzu , Hsu Fang-Ping , Wang Wei-Ting 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAdverse reactions may still occur in some patients after receiving haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), even when choosing a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched donor. The adverse reactions of transplantation include disease relapse, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), mortality and CMV infection. However, only the relapse was discussed in our previous study. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the correlation between the gene polymorphisms within the HLA region and the adverse reactions of post-HSCT in patients with acute leukaemia (n = 176), where 72 patients were diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL) and 104 were acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms were divided into three models: donor, recipient, and donor-recipient pairs and the data of ALL and AML were analysed individually. Based on the results, we found 16 SNPs associated with the survival rates, the risk of CMV infection, or the grade of GVHD in either donor, recipient, or donor-recipient matching models. In the ALL group, the rs209132 of TRIM27 in the donor group was related to CMV infection (p = 0.021), the rs213210 of RING1 in the recipient group was associated with serious GVHD (p = 0.003), and the rs2227956 of HSPA1L in the recipient group correlated with CMV infection (p = 0.001). In the AML group, the rs3130048 of BAG6 in the donor-recipient pairs group was associated with serious GVHD (p = 0.048). Moreover, these SNPs were further associated with the duration time of survival after transplantation. These results could be applied to select the best donor in HSCT.