bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Air Pollution Exposure Affects Severity and Cellular Endotype of Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps
Authors: Yang Xiaozhe , Shen Shen , Deng Yuzhoujia , Wang Chengshuo , Zhang Luo 
Published: December 2021

Objectives/HypothesisAir pollution has emerged as an important environmental risk factor for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) progression. This study assessed exposure to five types of air pollution (PM2.5/10, SO2, NO2, CO, O3) and explored their effects on CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) severity and endotype.Study DesignRetrospective cohort study.MethodsAir pollution data from monitoring sites in Beijing were obtained to assess individual air pollution exposure. Outcomes of CRSwNP (n = 282) including Lund‐Mackay (L‐M) score, Lund‐Kennedy (L‐K) score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score and nasal patency/airflow resistance and so on were measured to analyze correlations with air pollution and compare groups with different exposure types. Multivariable‐adjusted binary logistic regression was used to determine potential air pollution risk factors of the endotype of eosinophilic CRSwNP (ECRSwNP).ResultsShort‐term exposures to PM2.5/10, SO2, CO, NO2, and O3 were weak but significantly associated with increased L‐M scores. Short‐term exposures to PM10, CO, and NO2 were correlated with increased VAS headache/facial pain scores. The L‐M scores of the group of the highest PM2.5 (≥150 μg/m3) exposure were significantly higher than those of control group. For each increased unit of the average concentration of PM2.5, there was a 1.047‐fold (95% confidence interval, 1.005–1.091) increased risk of the endotype of ECRSwNP.ConclusionsAir pollution exposure exacerbated CRSwNP severity and PM2.5 could be a risk factor for endotype of ECRSwNP, suggesting the role of air pollution in CRSwNP pathogenesis.Level of Evidence4 Laryngoscope, 132:2103–2110, 2022
A subject‐specific assessment of measurement errors and their correction in cerebrospinal fluid velocity maps using 4D flow MRI
Authors: Yavuz Ilik Selin , Otani Tomohiro , Yamada Shigeki , Watanabe Yoshiyuki , Wada Shigeo 
Published: December 2021

PurposePhase‐contrast MRI (PC‐MRI) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) velocity is used to evaluate the characteristics of intracranial diseases, such as normal‐pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). Nevertheless, PC‐MRI has several potential error sources, with eddy‐current‐based phase offset error being non‐negligible in CSF measurement. In this study, we assess the measurement error of CSF velocity maps obtained using 4D flow MRI and evaluate correction methods.MethodsCSF velocity maps of 10 patients with NPH were acquired using 4D flow MRI (velocity‐encoding = 5 cm/s). Distributed phase offset error was estimated for a whole 3D background field by polynomial fitting using robust regression analysis. This estimated phase offset error was then used to correct the CSF velocity maps. The estimated error profiles were compared with those obtained using an existing 2D correction approach involving local background information near the region of interest.ResultsThe residual standard error of the polynomial fitting against the phase offset error extracted from the measured velocities was within 0.2 cm/s. The spatial dependencies of the phase offset errors showed similar tendencies in all cases, but sufficient differences in these values were found to indicate requirement of velocity correction. Differences of the estimated errors among other correction approaches were in the order of 10−2 cm/s, and the estimated errors were in good agreement with those obtained using existing approaches.ConclusionOur method is capable of estimating the measurement error of CSF velocity maps obtained from 4D flow MRI and provides quantitatively reasonable characteristics for the main CSF profile in the cerebral aqueduct in patients with NPH.
Echo planar imaging–induced errors in intracardiac 4D flow MRI quantification
Authors: Westenberg Jos J. M. , van Assen Hans C. , van den Boogaard Pieter J. , Goeman Jelle J. , Saaid Hicham , Voorneveld Jason , Bosch Johan , Kenjeres Sasa , Claessens Tom , Garg Pankaj , Kouwenhoven Marc , Lamb Hildo J. 
Published: December 2021

PurposeTo assess errors associated with EPI‐accelerated intracardiac 4D flow MRI (4DEPI) with EPI factor 5, compared with non‐EPI gradient echo (4DGRE).MethodsThree 3T MRI experiments were performed comparing 4DEPI to 4DGRE: steady flow through straight tubes, pulsatile flow in a left‐ventricle phantom, and intracardiac flow in 10 healthy volunteers. For each experiment, 4DEPI was repeated with readout and blip phase‐encoding gradient in different orientations, parallel or perpendicular to the flow direction. In vitro flow rates were compared with timed volumetric collection. In the left‐ventricle phantom and in vivo, voxel‐based speed and spatio‐temporal median speed were compared between sequences, as well as mitral and aortic transvalvular net forward volume.ResultsIn steady‐flow phantoms, the flow rate error was largest (12%) for high velocity (>2 m/s) with 4DEPI readout gradient parallel to the flow. Voxel‐based speed and median speed in the left‐ventricle phantom were ≤5.5% different between sequences. In vivo, mean net forward volume inconsistency was largest (6.4 ± 8.5%) for 4DEPI with nonblip phase‐encoding gradient parallel to the main flow. The difference in median speed for 4DEPI versus 4DGRE was largest (9%) when the 4DEPI readout gradient was parallel to the flow.ConclusionsVelocity and flow rate are inaccurate for 4DEPI with EPI factor 5 when flow is parallel to the readout or blip phase‐encoding gradient. However, mean differences in flow rate, voxel‐based speed, and spatio‐temporal median speed were acceptable (≤10%) when comparing 4DEPI to 4DGRE for intracardiac flow in healthy volunteers.
Broadband selective excitation radiofrequency pulses for optimized localization in vivo
Authors: Kaiser Lana G. , Veshtort Mikhail , Pappas Ioannis , Deelchand Dinesh K. , Auerbach Edward J. , Marjańska Małgorzata , Inglis Ben A. 
Published: December 2021

PurposeThe aim of the study is to optimize the performance of localized 1H MRS sequences at 3T, using the entire spin system of N‐acetyl aspartate (NAA) as an example of the large chemical shift spread of all the metabolites routinely detected in vivo, including the amide region. We specifically focus on the design of the suitable broadband excitation radiofrequency (RF) pulses to minimize chemical shift artifacts.MethodsThe performance of the excitation and refocusing pulse shapes is evaluated with respect to NAA localization. Two new excitation RF pulses are developed to achieve optimized performance in the brain using single‐voxel 1H MRS at 3T. Numerical simulations and in vivo experiments are carried out to demonstrate the performance of the RF pulses.ResultsNew excitation RF pulses with the same B1 requirements but larger excitation bandwidth (up to a factor of 2) are shown to significantly reduce localization artifacts. The large frequency spread of the entire NAA spin system necessitates the use of broadband excitation and refocusing pulses for MRS at 3T.ConclusionTo minimize chemical shift artifacts of metabolic compounds with spins in the amide area (>5 ppm) at 3T it is important to use broadband excitation and refocusing pulses.
Recommended scoring approach for the pediatric patient‐reported outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events
Authors: Hinds Pamela S. , Pinheiro Laura C. , McFatrich Molly , Waldron Mia , Baker Justin N. , Mowbray Catriona , Maurer Scott H. , Cheng Yao , Reeve Bryce B. , Wang Jichuan 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundCollecting symptom, function, and adverse event (AE) data directly from children and adolescents undergoing cancer care is more comprehensive and accurate than relying solely on their caregivers or clinicians for their interpretations. We developed the pediatric patient‐reported outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (Ped‐PRO‐CTCAE) measurement system with input from children, parents, and clinicians. Here, we report how we determined the recommended Ped‐PRO‐CTCAE item scoring approach.MethodsData from 271 patients were analyzed using three scoring approaches: (a) at the AE attribute (frequency, severity, interference) using ordinal and dichotomous measures; (b) a weighted composite AE item score by AE attribute (0.5 ‐ frequency; 1.0 ‐ severity; 1.5 ‐ interference); and (c) overall number of AEs endorsed. Associations of each AE attribute, AE item score, and overall AE score with the Patient‐Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pediatric measures were examined. The ability of the overall Ped‐PRO‐CTCAE AE score to identify patients with PROMIS symptom T‐scores worse than reference population scores was assessed. Clinician preference for score information display was elicited through interviews with five pediatric oncology clinical trialists.ResultsThe diverse scoring approaches yielded similar outcomes, including positive correlations of the Ped‐PRO‐CTCAE attributes, AE item score, and the overall AEs score with the PROMIS Pediatric measures. Clinicians preferred the most granular display of scoring information (actual score reported by the child and corresponding descriptive term).ConclusionsAlthough three scoring approaches yielded similar results, we recommend the AE attribute level of one score per Ped‐PRO‐CTCAE AE attribute for its simplicity of use in care and research.
Change in 9/11‐related post‐traumatic stress symptoms following cancer diagnosis
Authors: Yung Janette , Takemoto Erin , Cone James , Li Jiehui 
Published: December 2021

AbstractObjectiveCancer can be a life‐threatening stressor that may evoke pre‐existing post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We assessed change in 9/11‐related PTSD symptoms following cancer diagnosis in a 9/11‐exposed cohort, the World Trade Center Health Registry.MethodsWe examined enrollees who had a first‐time post‐9/11 invasive cancer diagnosis and at least one pre‐ and two post‐diagnosis 9/11‐related PTSD assessments from enrolment through 2015. PTSD symptoms were measured using 17‐item PTSD Checklist (PCL, range 17‐85). Cancer was identified from New York State Cancer Registry and categorized as localized or advanced stage. We used piecewise spline linear mixed‐effects models to examine rate of change in PCL scores from pre‐ to post‐diagnosis periods, and whether the change differed by gender or stage, with time as fixed and random effects, adjusting for baseline age, race, and education.Results9/11‐related PTSD symptoms were slightly increasing in the pre‐diagnosis period, while this trend reversed in the post‐diagnosis period (β: −0.38; 95% CI: −0.60, −0.15). This trend was driven by male rescue/recovery workers (RRW), among whom significant decrease in rate of change in PCL scores was observed for those with advanced stage (slope change difference [95% CI]: −1.81 [−2.73, −0.90]). No significant difference in rate of change was observed among non‐RRW. Among females, PCL scores tended to decrease slightly, with no significant difference in rate of change between pre‐ and post‐diagnosis periods.ConclusionsWe observed significant reduction in the rate of change in 9/11‐related PTSD symptoms among male RRW. The underlying mechanism is unknown, necessitating future research.
Transnational, translocal, and transient: Economic communities of Arab entrepreneurs in Yiwu, China
Authors: Yang Xin , Wang Qingfang 
Published: December 2021

AbstractDespite an accumulation of literature on ethnic, immigrant, and transnational entrepreneurship, we still know very little about transnational entrepreneurship among less‐developed countries especially when culture and religion are concerned. Based on long‐term ethnographic work in immigrant Arab communities, this study examines the economic communities of transnational Arab entrepreneurs in Yiwu, a global wholesale hub city in China. We find that the motivation of profit‐seeking and transitional chain migration set the premise and foundation for Arab immigrant communities. The transnational networks of kinship and geo‐relationship are further integrated with Arab entrepreneurs' translocal networks based on religion, culture, profession, and educational experiences in shaping the economic activities of Arab entrepreneurs. At the same time, taking profit‐seeking as the primary goal instead of evident political and religious pursuits, their experiences also feature with transiency under the current institutional constraints. This study provides different evidence of transnational mixed embeddedness of immigrant ethnic entrepreneurship from a less‐developed economy where the state has a dominant role in economic, cultural, and political control.
Investigation of the binding site of ruthenium complexes to short single‐stranded oligodeoxynucleotides using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Starke Ines , Fürstenberg Sylvia 
Published: December 2021

RationaleIn order to elucidate the nature of the interaction between metal complexes and DNA, use was made of short telomere single‐stranded oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) strand 5′‐T1T2A3G4G5G6–3′ (1) and strands 5′‐T1C2A3G4G5G6–3′ (2), 5′‐T1T2A3C4G5G6‐3′ (3) and 5′‐T1C2C3C4C5G6‐3′ (4) for the verification of the binding site with four different ruthenium complexes as possible anticancer drug candidates.MethodsThe ability to form adducts between ruthenium complexes with short single‐stranded 6‐mers was investigated through the use of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS). Full scan ESI mass spectra and collision‐induced dissociation (CID) mass spectra were recorded on a high‐resolution quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer. The elemental compositions of the adducts and the most important product ions were calculated by exact mass measurements.ResultsESI‐MS measurements showed that the mono‐ruthenated ODNs were the main products produced under the conditions for the four ruthenium complexes and each of the ODNs. The CID results revealed that thymine and guanine are the preferred binding sites depending on the different compositions in the ODNs. However, for the ODN of the type: 5′‐T1C2C3C4C5G6‐3′ the coordination site on cytosine was observed as well. The different ruthenium complexes interacted in the same way.ConclusionsThis study showed that the characterization of new ruthenium complexes with short single‐stranded telomeric DNA (TTAGGG) and further different ODNs is possible with positive ESI‐MS/MS measurement. The identification of thymine and cytosine besides guanine as possible binding sites suggests that the interaction site is highly affected by the ODN's structure.
Extracellular Vimentin as a Target Against SARS‐CoV‐2 Host Cell Invasion
Authors: Suprewicz Łukasz , Swoger Maxx , Gupta Sarthak , Piktel Ewelina , Byfield Fitzroy J. , Iwamoto Daniel V. , Germann Danielle , Reszeć Joanna , Marcińczyk Natalia , Carroll Robert J. , Janmey Paul A. , Schwarz J. M. , Bucki Robert , Patteson Alison E. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractInfection of human cells by pathogens, including SARS‐CoV‐2, typically proceeds by cell surface binding to a crucial receptor. The primary receptor for SARS‐CoV‐2 is the angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), yet new studies reveal the importance of additional extracellular co‐receptors that mediate binding and host cell invasion by SARS‐CoV‐2. Vimentin is an intermediate filament protein that is increasingly recognized as being present on the extracellular surface of a subset of cell types, where it can bind to and facilitate pathogens’ cellular uptake. Biophysical and cell infection studies are done to determine whether vimentin might bind SARS‐CoV‐2 and facilitate its uptake. Dynamic light scattering shows that vimentin binds to pseudovirus coated with the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein, and antibodies against vimentin block in vitro SARS‐CoV‐2 pseudovirus infection of ACE2‐expressing cells. The results are consistent with a model in which extracellular vimentin acts as a co‐receptor for SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein with a binding affinity less than that of the spike protein with ACE2. Extracellular vimentin may thus serve as a critical component of the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein‐ACE2 complex in mediating SARS‐CoV‐2 cell entry, and vimentin‐targeting agents may yield new therapeutic strategies for preventing and slowing SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.
An Empirical Study on How Sapienz Achieves Coverage and Crash Detection
Authors: Arcuschin Iván , Galeotti Juan Pablo , Garbervetsky Diego 
Published: December 2021

AbstractSeveral tools for automatically testing Android applications have been proposed. In particular, Sapienz is a search‐based tool that has been recently deployed in an industrial setting. Although it has been shown that Sapienz outperforms several state‐of‐the‐art tools, it is still to be seen what features of SAPIENZ impact the most on its effectiveness. We conducted an extensive empirical study where we compare the impact of the search algorithm and the usage of motif genes, a more compact representation of individuals. Our empirical study shows that the usage of motif genes improves coverage both for Evolutionary Algorithms and random approaches. In particular, it also shows that NSGA‐II, the multi‐objective evolutionary algorithm used by Sapienz, does not have a clear improvement over other algorithms. In terms of number of crashes detected, our study shows that both NSGA‐II and Random Search perform similarly. While the usage of motif genes improves the crash detection of algorithms, it is not enough to make it statistically significant. These facts cast doubts about the use of Evolutionary Algorithms in the context of Android test generation and suggest that motif genes can have a great impact on the overall effectiveness.
Gallate ester of castor oil as a multifunctional additive in HAF carbon black–filled natural rubber composites
Authors: Kandil Heba , Samy Moshera , El‐Nashar Doaa E. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractA multifunctional additive based on castor oil (gallate ester of castor oil [GECO]) for rubber composites was synthesized via esterification between castor oil (CO) and gallic acid (GA). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the GECO. GECO was applied at different loadings (1, 2, and 4 phr) in high abrasion furnace (HAF) carbon black–filled natural rubber (NR) composite to study its effect on the curing, swelling, mechanical, and aging properties of the resulting composite. It was found that the use of GECO accelerated the curing process effectively and endowed the resulting composites with significantly better antiaging properties than the control composite containing the traditional antioxidant, N‐isopropyl‐N′‐phenyl‐1,4‐phenylenediamine (IPPD). Additionally, it was found that the use of 1 phr of GECO enhanced the swelling and mechanical properties of the resulting composite, and after this level, a slight decrease in the properties was observed. Scanning electron microscopy results confirmed that the use of 1 phr of GECO caused a better dispersion of HAF within the NR matrix which resulted in an enhancement in the HAF reinforcement.
Review of threatened Malagasy freshwater fishes in zoos and aquaria: The necessity of an ex situ conservation network—A call for action
Authors: Leiss Laura , Rauhaus Anna , Rakotoarison Andolalao , Fusari Charles , Vences Miguel , Ziegler Thomas 
Published: December 2021

AbstractMadagascar's biota is characterized by an extraordinary species richness, with a high degree of endemism. The island's freshwater habitats harbor numerous micro‐endemic species, restricted to particular regions and thus particularly at risk of extinction, due to deforestation, overfishing, and introduction of exotic species. The present study investigates for which threatened Malagasy freshwater fish species ex situ populations have already been established, as a baseline to prioritize actions to develop an effective ex situ conservation breeding network. Populations in zoos and aquaria were primarily determined using the Zoological Information System. Of 173 fish species recorded from Malagasy freshwater habitats, 123 exclusively inhabit freshwater; 79 of these are endemic to Madagascar, and 50 are classified as threatened. Our survey found 21 Malagasy freshwater fish species kept in zoos worldwide, of which 19 are endemic and threatened (22 if counting species kept by private breeders). Nine of the 19 Malagasy freshwater fish species kept in zoos have successfully reproduced within the 12 months preceding our survey. The ex situ conservation activities for threatened Malagasy freshwater fishes thus have not improved significantly since the strong start in the early 2000s. More than half of the 50 threatened endemic Malagasy freshwater fish species (viz. 31 species) are not kept ex situ, including 11 species ranked as Critically Endangered. Based on these findings we call for a better distribution of offspring among institutions, including private breeders in the framework of citizen conservation initiatives; a closer connection of ichthyological field research in Madagascar with conservation breeding efforts to set up ex situ populations—both in Madagascar and abroad—of species not yet kept in captivity; and the development of effective, integrated in situ and ex situ conservation strategies.
Reasons for unfulfilled breeding and transfer recommendations in zoos and aquariums
Authors: Gray Steven M. , Faust Lisa J. , Kuykendall Nicole A. , Bladow Rachel A. , Schad Eebes Kristine , Che‐Castaldo Judy P. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractOne of the primary tools for cooperatively managing animal populations within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is through Breeding and Transfer Plan (BTP) recommendations. These recommendations consider population demographics, genetics, husbandry, and institutional needs and aim to improve population viability and long‐term sustainability. However, fulfilling (i.e., completing) recommendations can be complicated by biological and logistical challenges. We examined institutional reasons for unfulfilled Breed With, Do Not Breed, Hold, and Send To recommendations collected in surveys in PMCTrack, software for tracking recommendation fulfillment, using descriptive and text‐mining methods. Overall, 73 Animal Programs used PMCTrack to distribute 2335 surveys and accrued responses from 167 zoos and aquariums from 2007 to 2019, with a response rate of 56% (n = 1307). For Breed With recommendations, common reasons were related to an individual animal's status and a pair's breeding behavior; for all other recommendation types, reasons were often management or logistical factors. Most Breed With recommendations were attempted (≥55%) but did not result in detectable pregnancy/eggs or offspring, due to pair incompatibility or not enough time to successfully produce offspring. Hold and Do Not Breed recommendations were often unfulfilled because the BTP recommendation was replaced with an interim (i.e., updated) recommendation during the inter‐planning period. Our results support the importance of some common population management practices, such as maintaining breeding pairs/groups for multiple BTPs to improve mate familiarity, examining husbandry mechanisms to promote breeding success, and making a concerted effort to adhere to planning timelines to facilitate transfers in alignment with breeding seasons.