bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preferences for thyroidectomy technique: Comparing traditional and transoral approaches
Authors: Chen Lena W. , Assadi Niddal , Hefetz‐Kirshenbaum Lior , Hong Hanna , Razavi Christopher R. , Grogan Raymon H. , Tufano Ralph P. , Khafif Avi , Russell Jonathon O. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundWe investigated preferences between the transcervical and transoral thyroidectomy approach in the United States and Israel.MethodsAn online survey assessing scar attitudes and surgical preferences, in English and Hebrew, was distributed on ThyCa.com and other platforms.Results928 and 339 responses from the United States and Israel cohorts, respectively, were analyzed. In both countries, individuals without prior thyroidectomy preferred a scarless approach when hypothetical risks equaled those of traditional thyroidectomy (77% United States, 76% Israel, p = 0.61). U.S. respondents without thyroidectomy had greater preference to avoid a scar and would pay more to do so than those with thyroidectomy (both p < 0.001). Many respondents with prior thyroidectomy still expressed interest in scarless alternatives (57% United States).ConclusionsPopulations in Israel and the United States prefer scarless thyroidectomy when risks equal the traditional approach. While individuals without prior thyroidectomy are more likely to favor a scarless option, former thyroidectomy patients may have preferred avoiding a scar.
Prevalence of hepatitis B e antigenemia in Bahraini hepatitis B patients: A retrospective, single‐center study
Authors: Abdulla Maheeba , Ghuloom Mohamed , Nass Hafsa , Mohammed Nafeesa , Farid Eman , ALQamish Jehad 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackground and AimHepatitis B e (HBe) antigen (HBeAg) is commonly encountered among hepatitis B patients and is indicative of active infection. There is a lack of data in the literature about the prevalence of HBeAg among hepatitis B patients in Bahrain and its impact on the disease. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of HBeAg among a sample of hepatitis B patients in Bahrain and to analyze their associated laboratory profile, radiological characteristics, comorbidities, and complications.MethodsThis was a retrospective record‐review study conducted on patients' records at Salmaniya Medical Complex hospital in Bahrain during the period of 2011–2016. All records of hepatitis B patients who had HBeAg tests performed were included in this study.ResultsOf 323 patients recruited, 18.9% had positive HBeAg. The prevalence of anti‐HBe antibodies and hepatitis B core immunoglobulin G (HBc IgG) differed significantly between patients with positive and negative HBeAg (P < 0.001, P = 0.026, respectively). Alanine transferase and gamma‐glutamyl transferase were significantly higher among patients with positive HBeAg (P = 0.017, P = 0.016, respectively). There was no significant difference with regard to the prevalence of hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatocellular carcinoma, or liver transplantation between HBe‐positive and ‐negative patients (P ≥ 0.05).ConclusionHBeAg is prevalent among hepatitis B patients in Bahrain and is associated with a significantly different laboratory profile.
Effect of dialysis and transplantation on myocardial repolarization parameters and P‐wave dispersion in chronic kidney disease
Authors: Akcay Murat , Yıldırım Ufuk 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are at higher risk for cardiac arrhythmias. The risk of arrhythmia may change with different treatment modalities. We proposed to compare the effects of varied therapy methods on myocardial repolarization parameters (Tp‐e, QT, QTc intervals, Tp‐e/QT, Tp‐e/QTc ratios) and P‐wave dispersion (PWD) in patients with CKD.MethodsThree groups were formed from the patients aged between 18 and 65 years, as Group 1 consisting of CKD patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) three times a week, Group 2 consisting of predialysis CKD patients and Group 3 consisting of CKD patients who underwent successful transplantation. All patients’ basic demographic data, risk factors, and echocardiographic parameters were recorded, and electrocardiographic repolarization parameters and PWD were analyzed.ResultsThe PR, QT, and QTc intervals were significantly shorter in the transplantation group compared to the other groups (P = .020, P < .001, P = .035; respectively). Tp‐e interval, Tp‐e/QT, and Tp‐e/QTc ratios were significantly higher in the predialysis group compared to the other groups (P < .001, P < .001, P = .001; respectively), while there was no significant variation between the HD and transplantation groups (P > .05). PWD was significantly increased in the predialysis group compared to other two groups (P < .001), while no significant variation between the HD and transplantation groups was observed.ConclusionWe found that the Tp‐e interval, Tp‐e/QT, Tp‐e/QTc, and PWD were significantly higher in the predialysis CKD group, but the PR, QT, and QTc intervals were significantly shorter in the transplantation group compared to the other groups. The prognostic significance and prediction of these parameters in arrhythmic events in CKD patients requires further evaluation with long‐time follow‐up.
Assessment of the Global and Regional Circumferential Strain of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm with Different Size by Speckle‐Tracking Echocardiography
Authors: Li Tan , Liu Xiaozheng , Sun Haiyang , Ning Hongxia , Yang Jun , Ma Chunyan 
Published: February 2021

ObjectivesWe aimed to use speckle‐tracking echocardiography (STE) to quantify circumferential aortic strain of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) with different size.MethodsA total of 87 AAA patients were included. The morphological variables, including aortic maximum diameter (MD), end systolic area (ESA), end diastolic area (EDA), and thickness and area of intraluminal thrombus (ILT), were measured by ultrasound. STE was applied to calculate circumferential strain (CS) at 6 equally divided segments of the aorta at MD. We evaluated the mean value of peak strain along the 6 segments as global circumferential strain (GCS).ResultsLarge AAA (≥5.5 cm) patients had higher MD, ESA, EDA, AAA length, ILT thickness, and area, but lower fractional area change, GCS, and segmental CSs than small AAA (<5.5 cm) subjects (all P < .05). Compared with AAA <4.5 cm group, AAA patients ≥4.5 cm possessed increased MD, ESA, EDA, AAA length, ILT thickness, and area, which results were also reflected in the comparison between AAA <6.5 and ≥6.5 cm group. In small AAA patients, GCS and regional strains in CS1, CS3, and CS5 segments were lower in AAA subjects ≥4.5 cm than those <4.5 cm (all P<.05). However, no significant differences in the GCS and regional CS between ≥6.5 and <6.5 cm group were found. Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative association of GCS with MD, ESA, and EDA, even after adjusting the potential confounding factors (all P < .05).ConclusionsOur findings may yield insight into the structural strain characteristics of AAA wall with different size, which adds the benefit of using simple echocardiography‐derived biomechanics to stratify AAA patients.
Disparities in Laryngeal Cancer Treatment and Outcomes: An Analysis by Hospital Safety‐Net Burden
Authors: Qureshi Muhammad M. , Oladeru Oluwadamilola T. , Lam Christa M. , Dyer Michael A. , Mak Kimberley S. , Hirsch Ariel E. , Truong Minh Tam 
Published: February 2021

Objectives/HypothesisTo analyze the impact of hospital safety‐net burden on survival outcomes for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) patients.Study DesignRetrospective cohort study.MethodsFrom 2004 to 2015, 59,733 LSCC patients treated with curative intent were identified using the National Cancer Database. Low (LBH) <25th, medium (MBH) 25th–75th, and high (HBH) >75th safety‐net burden hospitals were defined by the percentage quartiles (%) of uninsured/Medicaid‐insured patients treated. Social and clinicopathologic characteristics and overall survival (using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis) were evaluated. Crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed using Cox regression modeling.ResultsThere were 324, 647, and 323 hospitals that met the criteria as LBH, MBH, and HBH, respectively. The median follow‐up was 38.6 months. A total of 27,629 deaths were reported, with a median survival of 75.8 months (a 5‐year survival rate of 56.6%). Median survival was 83.2, 77.8, and 69.3 months for patients from LBH, MBH, and HBH, respectively (P < .0001). The median % of uninsured/Medicaid‐insured patients treated among LBH, MBH, and HBH were 3.6%, 14.0%, and 27.0%, respectively. Patients treated at HBH were significantly more likely to be young, Black, Hispanic, of low income, and present with more advanced disease compared to LBH and MBH. Survival was comparable for LBH and MBH (HR = 1.02; 95% CI = 0.97–1.07, P = .408) on multivariate analysis. HBH, compared to LBH patients, had inferior survival (HR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.01–1.13, P = .023).ConclusionsHigh burden safety‐net hospitals receive disproportionately more patients with advanced‐stage and low socioeconomic status, yielding inferior survival compared to low burden hospitals.Level of Evidence3 (individual cohort study) Laryngoscope, 131:E1987–E1997, 2021
Simultaneous T1, T2, and T1ρ relaxation mapping of the lower leg muscle with MR fingerprinting
Authors: Sharafi Azadeh , Medina Katherine , Zibetti Marcelo W. V. , Rao Smita , Cloos Martijn A. , Brown Ryan , Regatte Ravinder R. 
Published: February 2021

PurposeTo develop a novel MR‐fingerprinting (MRF) pulse sequence that is insensitive to and B0 imperfections for simultaneous T1, T2, and T1ρ relaxation mapping.MethodsWe implemented a totally balanced spin‐lock (TB‐SL) module to encode T1ρ relaxation into an existing MRF framework that encoded T1 and T2. The spin‐lock module used two 180° pulses with compensatory phases to reduce T1ρ sensitivity to B1 and B0 inhomogeneities. We compared T1ρ measured using TB‐SL MRF in Bloch simulations, model agar phantoms, and in vivo experiments to those with a self‐compensated spin‐lock preparation module (SC‐SL). The TB‐SL MRF repeatability was evaluated in maps acquired in the lower leg skeletal muscle of 12 diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients, scanned two times each during visits separated by about 30 days.ResultsThe phantom relaxation times measured with TB‐SL and SC‐SL MRF were in good agreement with reference values in regions with low B1 inhomogeneities. Compared with SC‐SL, TB‐SL MRF showed in experiments greater robustness against severe B1 inhomogeneities and in Bloch simulations greater robustness against B1 and B0. We measured with TB‐SL MRF an average T1 = 950.1 ± 28.7 ms, T2 = 26.0 ± 1.2 ms, and T1ρ = 31.7 ± 3.2 ms in skeletal muscle across patients. Bland‐Altman analysis demonstrated low bias between TB‐SL and SC‐SL MRF and between TB‐SL MRF maps acquired in two visits. The coefficient of variation was less than 3% for all measurements.ConclusionThe proposed TB‐SL MRF sequence is fast and insensitive to and B0 imperfections. It can simultaneously map T1, T2, T1ρ, and in a single scan and can potentially be used to study muscle composition.
Glucose Doping of a Glc‐Fe‐ZIF ORR Catalyst for Proton‐Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Optimising Porous Structures and Improving Performance
Authors: Zhong Jia‐Qiang , He Li‐Juan , Yang Qing‐Xia , Duan Xin‐Wei , Yang Wei‐Hua 
Published: February 2021

AbstractGreat advances have been made in developing Fe/N/C catalyst, which is a potential candidate for replacing the low‐platinum group metal catalysts used in proton‐exchange membrane fuel cells. Herein, a highly efficient porous structure catalyst was synthesised by doping glucose into the zeolitic imidazolate framework, which obtained numerous pores after high‐temperature pyrolysis. The porous carbon structure was conducive to improving mass transport and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activities. The Glc‐Fe‐ZIF catalyst exhibited an excellent ORR activity with a half‐wave potential (E1/2) of 0.874 V (RHE) and the maximum power density reached 0.72 W cm−2 in acidic medium.
Systematic Studies of Gold Nanoparticles Functionalised with Thioglucose and its Cytotoxic Effect
Authors: Tomaszewska Emilia , Ranoszek‐Soliwoda Katarzyna , Sztandera Krzysztof , Błażałek Paulina , Głowacki Rafał , Janaszewska Anna , Janasik Beata , Celichowski Grzegorz , Wąsowicz Wojciech , Klajnert‐Maculewicz Barbara , Grobelny Jarosław 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn this paper, we present systematic studies concerning the synthesis protocol, functionalisation process, characterisation and cytotoxic effects of thioglucose‐modified gold nanoparticles (TG‐AuNPs). The characterisation of AuNPs and TG‐AuNPs was performed using: scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy (UV‐vis). The modification of AuNPs with TG was confirmed by Fourier‐Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT‐IR) and the surface coverage was determined with High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Prepared bio‐conjugates with increasing and controlled amounts of TG on AuNPS were then biologically investigated: the cell viability using the MTT assay; the uptake of AuNPs in cell culture by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP‐OES); the incorporation of AuNPs in cell structures by confocal microscopy. The obtained results suggest that bio‐conjugates disclose both good biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity, and further‐can target the cancer cells and may constitute promising potential nanocarriers of anticancer drugs.
An efficient cephalosporin stewardship programme in French swine production
Authors: Verliat Fabien , Hemonic Anne , Chouet Sylvie , Le Coz Philippe , Liber Mélanie , Jouy Eric , Perrin‐Guyomard Agnès , Chevance Anne , Delzescaux Didier , Chauvin Claire 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBy 2010, systems set up to monitor the antimicrobial resistance of pathogenic bacteria and antimicrobial usage identified a sustained increase regarding third‐ and fourth‐generation cephalosporin resistance in French pig production. This sector mobilised and collectively committed to responsible action in the following months. This led to a multi‐professional voluntary stewardship programme that was started in 2011. A consensus of veterinary opinion led to the definition of restrictive rules on the prescription of the third‐ and fourth‐generation cephalosporins targeted by the antimicrobial stewardship programme (ASP). All pig sector professionals, including farmers, were informed. Existing monitoring systems for usage and resistance were supplemented by data from the records of veterinarians' cephalosporin deliveries and from individual pig farm surveys investigating antimicrobial usage. The second step, from 2014, entailed regulatory measures that consolidated the programme by setting quantitative reduction objectives and specifying the terms and conditions for prescribing and dispensing a list of critical antimicrobial molecules including cephalosporins. All the data sources confirmed a significant fall of more than 90% in cephalosporin usage in the French pig production sector between 2010 and 2016. Monitoring systems recorded that the resistance of commensal and pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates also tended to decrease over the same period. The stewardship programme proved highly effective in reducing usage and containing resistance, illustrating the efficiency of a well‐defined multi‐professional strategy.
Electrochemical Synthesis of Triphenylphosphine Coinage Metal Complexes stabilized by closo‐Dodecaborates [B12X12]2− (X=H, F, Cl, Br, I)
Authors: Exner Rüdiger M. , Jenne Carsten , Wegener Bianca 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe synthesis of salts of reactive cations and weakly coordinating anions is of great interest to the development of catalysts, because the weak electrostatic interaction between the two may greatly increase catalytic activity and solubility in nonpolar solvents. However, the synthesis of these salts is in many cases difficult and requires elaborate, sometimes multi‐step procedures. Here, we describe the synthesis of a library of monocationic group 11 metal‐triphenylphosphine complexes of dodecaborates generated by means of electrochemistry. The complexes of the general formula [M(PPh3)y(CH3CN)z]2[B12X12] (M=Cu, Ag, Au; X=H, F, Cl, Br, I; y=2–4; z=0–2) were synthesized from the free acid of the respective dodecaborate and the elemental metal in acetonitrile in the presence of triphenylphosphine. The reactions were performed in an electrochemical cell under ambient conditions in polypropylene containers in all cases. A total of 13 different crystal structures in the [M(PPh3)y(CH3CN)z]2[B12X12] system were obtained. As a by‐product in some reactions single crystals of [(H3O)(OPPh3)3]2[B12X12] (X=Cl, Br, I) were found.
Counting monster potentials
Authors: Conti Riccardo , Masoero Davide 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
We study the large momentum limit of the monster potentials of Bazhanov-Lukyanov-Zamolodchikov, which — according to the ODE/IM correspondence — should correspond to excited states of the Quantum KdV model.We prove that the poles of these potentials asymptotically condensate about the complex equilibria of the ground state potential, and we express the leading correction to such asymptotics in terms of the roots of Wronskians of Hermite polynomials.This allows us to associate to each partition of N a unique monster potential with N roots, of which we compute the spectrum. As a consequence, we prove — up to a few mathematical technicalities — that, fixed an integer N , the number of monster potentials with N roots coincides with the number of integer partitions of N , which is the dimension of the level N subspace of the quantum KdV model. In striking accordance with the ODE/IM correspondence.
Crossing a large-N phase transition at finite volume
Authors: Bea Yago , Dias Oscar J. C. , Giannakopoulos Thanasis , Mateos David , Sanchez-Garitaonandia Mikel , Santos Jorge E. , Zilhão Miguel 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The existence of phase-separated states is an essential feature of infinite-volume systems with a thermal, first-order phase transition. At energies between those at which the phase transition takes place, equilibrium homogeneous states are either metastable or suffer from a spinodal instability. In this range the stable states are inhomogeneous, phase-separated states. We use holography to investigate how this picture is modified at finite volume in a strongly coupled, four-dimensional gauge theory. We work in the planar limit, N → ∞, which ensures that we remain in the thermodynamic limit. We uncover a rich set of inhomogeneous states dual to lumpy black branes on the gravity side, as well as first- and second-order phase transitions between them. We establish their local (in)stability properties and show that fully non-linear time evolution in the bulk takes unstable states to stable ones.
Quarkonium semiclassical transport in quark-gluon plasma: factorization and quantum correction
Authors: Yao Xiaojun , Mehen Thomas 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
We study quarkonium transport in the quark-gluon plasma by using the potential nonrelativistic QCD (pNRQCD) effective field theory and the framework of open quantum systems. We argue that the coupling between quarkonium and the thermal bath is weak using separation of scales, so the initial density matrix of the total system factorizes and the time evolution of the subsystem is Markovian. We derive the semiclassical Boltzmann equation for quarkonium by applying a Wigner transform to the Lindblad equation and carrying out a semiclassical expansion. We resum relevant interactions to all orders in the coupling constant at leading power of the nonrelativistic and multipole expansions. The derivation is valid for both weakly coupled and strongly coupled quark-gluon plasmas. We find reaction rates in the transport equation factorize into a quarkonium dipole transition function and a chromoelectric gluon distribution function. For the differential reaction rate, the definition of the momentum dependent chromoelectric gluon distribution function involves staple-shaped Wilson lines. For the inclusive reaction rate, the Wilson lines collapse into a straight line along the real time axis and the distribution becomes momentum independent. The relation between the two Wilson lines is analogous to the relation between the Wilson lines appearing in the gluon parton distribution function (PDF) and the gluon transverse momentum dependent parton distribution function (TMDPDF). The centrality dependence of the quarkonium nuclear modification factor measured by experiments probes the momentum independent distribution while the transverse momentum dependence and measurements of the azimuthal angular anisotropy may be able to probe the momentum dependent one. We discuss one way to indirectly constrain the quarkonium in-medium real potential by using the factorization formula and lattice calculations. The leading quantum correction to the semiclassical transport equation of quarkonium is also worked out. The study can be easily generalized to quarkonium transport in cold nuclear matter, which is relevant for quarkonium production in eA collisions in the future Electron-Ion Collider.
Safety and effectiveness of surgical fixation versus non-surgical methods for the treatment of flail chest in adult populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Apampa Ayobobola A. , Ali Ayesha , Kadir Bryar , Ahmed Zubair 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPurposeThe objective of this systematic review is to compare the safety and efficacy of surgical fixation of rib fractures against non-surgical interventions for the treatment of flail chest in the adult population.MethodsA search was performed on the 22nd of July 2020 to identify articles comparing surgical fixation versus clinical management for flail chest in adults, with a description of the outcome parameters (resource utility, mortality, adverse effects of the intervention and adverse progression in pulmonary status). Relevant randomised controlled trials were selected, their risk of bias assessed, and the data then extracted and analysed.Results157 patients were included from four studies in the analyses, with 79 and 78 patients in the surgical and non-surgical groups, respectively. The pooled effects of all outcomes tended towards favouring surgical intervention. Surgical intervention was associated with lower rates of pneumonia (I2 = 46%,Tau2 = 0.16,p = 0.16), significantly lower rates of tracheostomy (I2 = 76%,Tau2 = 0.67,p = 0.02), and a significantly lower duration of mechanical ventilation (I2 = 88%,Tau2 = 33.7,p < 0.01) in comparison to the non-surgical management methods.ConclusionOur results suggest that surgical intervention reduces the need for tracheostomy, reduces the time spent in the intensive care unit following a traumatic flail chest injury and could reduce the risk of acquiring pneumonia after such an event. There is a need for further well-designed studies with sufficient sample sizes to confirm the results of this study and also detect other possible effects of surgical intervention in the treatment of traumatic flail chest in adults.