bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reevaluating the prognostic value of RAS mutation status in patients with resected liver metastases from colorectal cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Pikoulis Emmanouil , Papaconstantinou Dimitrios , Pikouli Anastasia , Wang Jane , Theodoridis Charalampos , Margonis Georgios Antonios 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundAlthough the value of Rat Sarcoma Oncogene (RAS) mutation status in predicting long‐term outcomes in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is widely accepted, the magnitude of its impact has recently been challenged by three large cohort studies. The aim of this meta‐analysis is to reevaluate the impact of RAS mutations on overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) in patients who underwent curative‐intent resection of CRLM.MethodsA comprehensive literature search was performed for studies reporting outcomes of patients undergoing curative‐intent surgery stratified by RAS mutation status. Exclusion criteria were defined a priori. Subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of publication date, sample size, and KRAS vs any RAS mutation on overall outcomes.ResultsTen studies incorporating 3115 patients with known RAS status were identified. Pooled results revealed significantly worse OS (Hazard Ratio 1.5, 95% CI 1.31‐1.71) and DFS (Hazard Ratio 1.36, 95% CI 1.22‐1.52) in RAS‐mutated patients. Subgroup analyses revealed that studies including more than 300 patients or published after 2015 reported lower HR than their counterparts.ConclusionThe results of this meta‐analysis suggest that the prognostic value of RAS mutation status in patients with CRLM has been previously overestimated.
Accelerated numerical modeling of RF circuits using network characteristic mode analysis
Authors: Li Hongliang , Jin Jian‐Ming , Hajiaboli Amir , Jachowski Douglas R. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractA fast numerical modeling approach based on network characteristic mode analysis (CMA) is presented and investigated for analyzing electrical layouts in miniature RF filters, such as surface acoustic wave filters. In this approach, a generalized eigenvalue decomposition is performed on the Z‐parameters of an electrical layout at one or two sampling frequencies that can be computed and extracted with any numerical full‐wave method. The obtained eigenvalues are used to extract modal resistance, inductance, and capacitance matrices for each eigenmode. The frequency dependence of the modal resistance matrix can be assumed a priori or determined automatically, and the modal inductance and capacitance matrices are assumed frequency independent. These modal matrices are then used to approximate the Z‐parameters at any other frequencies to provide the response of the electrical layout, which can then be combined with the frequency responses of other components, such as resonators, to yield the electrical response of an entire RF filter. Compared with the previously developed analytic extension of eigenvalues, this fast CMA‐based method is less affected by the frequency variation of eigenmodes since the frequency dependences of the eigenmodes are implicitly canceled out in its formulation. The accuracy of this approach is evaluated by comparing with results from full‐wave analyses. For RF circuits whose electrical sizes are small and whose frequency range of interest is relatively small, the proposed CMA‐based fast frequency sweep approach is found to be sufficiently accurate and highly practical for engineering applications.
Precipitation efficiency of cloud and its influencing factors over the Tibetan plateau
Authors: Zhao Pengguo , Xiao Hui , Liu Jia , Zhou Yunjun 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe basic characteristics of cloud water, precipitation, and the dependence of precipitation efficiency (PE) on the influencing factors over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are investigated. Results found that the liquid water path shows a significant downward trend in winter over the TP, and the ice water path shows a significant upward trend in the pre‐monsoon and winter seasons and a significant downward trend in the monsoon season in the western TP from 1998 to 2015. In the eastern TP, the precipitation in the monsoon season also shows a significant downward trend, which may be related to the weakening of the South Asian monsoon. Results have determined that precipitation depends more on the ice water cloud than on the liquid water cloud over the TP. Moreover, the convective available potential energy (CAPE) and the low‐tropospheric relative humidity (RH) are two environmental factors that have a prominent influence on the PE. During the monsoon season, higher CAPE and RH were conducive to a larger PE over the TP. The results suggest that the CAPE has a positive effect on the PE, which means that the PE is directly dependent on the convective precipitation, mainly due to the frequent convective activity and dominant convective precipitation over the TP.
Analysis of historical heatwaves in the United Kingdom using gridded temperature data
Authors: Beckett Alexander D. , Sanderson Michael G. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAreas of land in the United Kingdom (UK) affected by heatwaves between 1960 and 2019 have been analysed using a daily gridded temperature dataset. An new metric, the ‘heatwave cumulative area’, defined as the sum of the largest single area on all days within a given heatwave, was found to be useful for distinguishing extreme heatwaves (those which lasted for many days and affected large parts of the UK) from lesser heatwaves. At the time of writing, the heatwaves of July 1975, August 1990 and July 2019 had the largest areas. Positive trends in numbers, durations and areas of heatwaves were found as a result of rising summer temperatures. The maximum areas and maximum temperatures of the heatwaves were found to be highly correlated. The heatwave of 1976, in many ways, remains the most extreme event to have affected the UK, owing to its large area and long duration with temperatures above 30°C.
In‐syringe ionic liquid‐dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction coupled with HPLC for the determination of trans,trans‐muconic acid in human urine sample
Authors: Abbaszadeh Sepideh , Yousefinejad Saeed , Jafari Saeed , Soleimani Esmaeel 
Published: June 2021

Abstracttrans,trans‐Muconic acid has been widely used as a biomarker in biological monitoring of benzene‐exposed workers during routine occupational health services. In the present study, a novel microextraction technique, in‐syringe ionic liquid‐dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction, was implemented for preconcentration of trans,trans‐muconic acid followed by analytical determination by high‐performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Moreover, the important variables affecting the performance of applied microextraction technique including needle diameter, volume of the spiked sample, volume of the ionic liquid, salt addition, rotation speed of centrifugation, centrifuge time, and ultrasonic time were optimized by experimental design. A good linear relationship was observed at the range of 0.032–10 μg/mL between the peak area and the concentration levels (R2 = 0.9997). The limit of detection and extraction recovery for trans,trans‐muconic acid were 0.011 μg/mL and >96.2%, respectively. This method provided easy and rapid analysis of low amounts of trans,trans‐muconic acid in human urine with simple equipment.
Comparative evaluation of a low‐cost solar powered otoscope with a traditional device among health care workers in Malawi
Authors: Balfour Katharine , McCarthy Amy , Hey Shi Ying , Kousha Obaid , Singano Emmanuel , Mulwafu Wakisa , Walker David F. D. L. , Blaikie Andrew 
Published: June 2021

AbstractObjectivesTo comparatively evaluate a low‐cost otoscope with a traditional device among health care workers in Malawi.MethodsThe study is a prospective, comparative, qualitative observational survey of health care worker's opinions using 5‐point Likert rating scales and tick box categories in a 10‐item survey questionnaire. Twenty‐five mixed cadre health care workers from the Ear, Nose, and Throat Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blantyre in Malawi were recruited. Outcomes measures used were ease of speculum attachment, handling, insertion, stability, the quality of view, color, build, brightness, overall ease of use, and their suitability for local work.ResultsThe low‐cost otoscope scored statistically higher in overall combined performance, as well as in the remaining four out of the nine attributes. Notably, 54.2% of users rated the low‐cost device more suitable than the traditional device for use in low‐middle income countries, 25% were equivocal, and 20.8% preferred the traditional device.ConclusionThis study found the Arclight otoscope to be an appropriate and practical substitute for more expensive traditional otoscopes for the delivery of ENT services in low resource settings.Level of EvidenceN/A
Accessing the full spectrum of corrosion behaviour of tempered type 420 stainless steel
Authors: Zhou Yiqi , Engelberg Dirk Lars 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBipolar electrochemistry produces a linear potential gradient between two feeder electrodes, providing access to the full spectrum of anodic‐to‐cathodic electrochemical behaviour. A type 420 martensitic stainless steel has been used to investigate microstructure evolution and corrosion behaviour with application of different tempering heat treatments. Tempering treatments at 250°C, 400°C and 700°C revealed the occurrence of pitting corrosion, with treatments at 550°C resulting in general and intergranular corrosion. Cr23C6 was present in all tempering conditions, with Cr7C3 and CrC only observed for tempering at 550°C. The 250°C tempering treatment had the highest corrosion resistance with a hardness value much higher than 500 HV.
Biphenyl Containing Shape Memory Epoxy Resin with Post‐heating Adjustable Properties
Authors: Yang Jing , Tao Liming , Cao Pengrui , Yang Zenghui , Zhang Xinrui , Wang Qihua , Wang Tingmei , Luo Heming , Zhang Yaoming 
Published: June 2021

AbstractShape memory epoxy resin (SMEP) with tailorable properties has gained wide attention. Herein, a series of photocured diphenyl epoxy with excellent shape memory effects, based on the epoxy monomer diglycidyl ether of biphenyl (DGEBP) and M‐xylylenediamine (MXDA), is fabricated. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) is used to verify the mix‐curing process. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), polarized light microscope (POM), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) are applied to analyze the microstructure of the film. The molar ratio of the raw material and the post‐heating could tune the crosslinking density, which allows the prepared epoxy resin to present a tailorable shape memory effect. Besides, this epoxy resin exhibits an excellent triple‐shape memory effect due to the wide transition temperature. It is worth of noting that post‐heating induced the self‐assembly of biphenyl unit of the lamellar structure due to π–π interactions that causes an adjustable shape memory effect. This work offers a novel SMEP with potential application in the thermal history trace field.
Development and Validation of a Patient‐Reported Outcome Measure of Ataxia
Authors: Schmahmann Jeremy D. , Pierce Samantha , MacMore Jason , L'Italien Gilbert J. 
Published: June 2021

ABSTRACTBackgroundAssessment of cerebellar ataxia has been confined to rating scales, gait laboratories, and wearable sensors agnostic to patient input.ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to develop a Patient‐Reported Outcome Measure of Ataxia.Methods(1) The conceptual framework, item pool development, and domain selection were developed using online surveys completed by 147 ataxia patients. Responses generated the 70‐item Patient‐Reported Outcome Measure of Ataxia, scored on a 0–4 Likert scale. (2) Cognitive debrief in 17 patients grouped by ataxia severity assessed content validity, readability, and comprehension. (3) Psychometric validation by 78 anonymized ataxia patients included test–retest reliability, responsiveness to ataxia severity, internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), and item–total score correlations. (4) Validation was tested against measures of ataxia and quality of life in 20 patients. (5) Items were rank‐ordered to develop the Patient‐Reported Outcome Measure of Ataxia Short Form.ResultsThree thousand eight hundred fifty‐five symptoms were grouped into 3 domains (physical, activities of daily living, mental health) and 14 subdomains. The Patient‐Reported Outcome Measure of Ataxia was comprehensible, important, and relevant. Internal consistency, reliability, and test–retest reliability were high. Scores were responsive to ataxia severity stages 1, 2, and 3: mean ± standard deviation 81.0 ± 37.0, 129.6 ± 32.0, and 151.1 ± 41.3, respectively (r = 0.58, P < 0.0001). The Patient‐Reported Outcome Measure of Ataxia was validated against measures of motor ataxia, quality of life, and mental health. It had an R2 of 0.82 (P < 0.0001) with the preliminary Patient‐Reported Outcome Measure of Ataxia Short Form.ConclusionsThe Patient‐Reported Outcome Measure of Ataxia is valid and reliable in cerebellar ataxia patients. It has the potential to improve patient care and natural history studies and quantify the efficacy of novel therapeutics in clinical trials. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Combining stem cells in myocardial infarction: The road to superior repair?
Authors: Beliën Hanne , Evens Lize , Hendrikx Marc , Bito Virginie , Bronckaers Annelies 
Published: June 2021

AbstractMyocardial infarction irreversibly destroys millions of cardiomyocytes in the ventricle, making it the leading cause of heart failure worldwide. Over the past two decades, many progenitor and stem cell types were proposed as the ideal candidate to regenerate the heart after injury. The potential of stem cell therapy has been investigated thoroughly in animal and human studies, aiming at cardiac repair by true tissue replacement, by immune modulation, or by the secretion of paracrine factors that stimulate endogenous repair processes. Despite some successful results in animal models, the outcome from clinical trials remains overall disappointing, largely due to the limited stem cell survival and retention after transplantation. Extensive interest was developed regarding the combinational use of stem cells and various priming strategies to improve the efficacy of regenerative cell therapy. In this review, we provide a critical discussion of the different stem cell types investigated in preclinical and clinical studies in the field of cardiac repair. Moreover, we give an update on the potential of stem cell combinations as well as preconditioning and explore the future promises of these novel regenerative strategies.
Systematic evaluation of iterative deep neural networks for fast parallel MRI reconstruction with sensitivity‐weighted coil combination
Authors: Hammernik Kerstin , Schlemper Jo , Qin Chen , Duan Jinming , Summers Ronald M. , Rueckert Daniel 
Published: June 2021

PurposeTo systematically investigate the influence of various data consistency layers and regularization networks with respect to variations in the training and test data domain, for sensitivity‐encoded accelerated parallel MR image reconstruction.Theory and MethodsMagnetic resonance (MR) image reconstruction is formulated as a learned unrolled optimization scheme with a down‐up network as regularization and varying data consistency layers. The proposed networks are compared to other state‐of‐the‐art approaches on the publicly available fastMRI knee and neuro dataset and tested for stability across different training configurations regarding anatomy and number of training samples.ResultsData consistency layers and expressive regularization networks, such as the proposed down‐up networks, form the cornerstone for robust MR image reconstruction. Physics‐based reconstruction networks outperform post‐processing methods substantially for R = 4 in all cases and for R = 8 when the training and test data are aligned. At R = 8, aligning training and test data is more important than architectural choices.ConclusionIn this work, we study how dataset sizes affect single‐anatomy and cross‐anatomy training of neural networks for MRI reconstruction. The study provides insights into the robustness, properties, and acceleration limits of state‐of‐the‐art networks, and our proposed down‐up networks. These key insights provide essential aspects to successfully translate learning‐based MRI reconstruction to clinical practice, where we are confronted with limited datasets and various imaged anatomies.
Joint multi‐field T1 quantification for fast field‐cycling MRI
Authors: Bödenler Markus , Maier Oliver , Stollberger Rudolf , Broche Lionel M. , Ross P. James , MacLeod Mary‐Joan , Scharfetter Hermann 
Published: June 2021

PurposeRecent developments in hardware design enable the use of fast field‐cycling (FFC) techniques in MRI to exploit the different relaxation rates at very low field strength, achieving novel contrast. The method opens new avenues for in vivo characterizations of pathologies but at the expense of longer acquisition times. To mitigate this, we propose a model‐based reconstruction method that fully exploits the high information redundancy offered by FFC methods.MethodsThe proposed model‐based approach uses joint spatial information from all fields by means of a Frobenius ‐ total generalized variation regularization. The algorithm was tested on brain stroke images, both simulated and acquired from FFC patients scans using an FFC spin echo sequences. The results are compared to three non‐linear least squares fits with progressively increasing complexity.ResultsThe proposed method shows excellent abilities to remove noise while maintaining sharp image features with large signal‐to‐noise ratio gains at low‐field images, clearly outperforming the reference approach. Especially patient data show huge improvements in visual appearance over all fields.ConclusionThe proposed reconstruction technique largely improves FFC image quality, further pushing this new technology toward clinical standards.
Senescent cells in human adipose tissue: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Espinosa De Ycaza Ana Elena , Søndergaard Esben , Morgan‐Bathke Maria , Carranza Leon Barbara Gisella , Lytle Kelli A. , Ramos Paola , Kirkland James L. , Tchkonia Tamar , Jensen Michael D. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractObjectiveAdipose tissue (AT) senescence is associated with AT dysfunction in rodents, but little is known about human AT senescence. The study goal was to define the distribution of senescent cells in two subcutaneous depots and understand relationships with adiposity and inflammation.MethodsSixty‐three volunteers (48 females) underwent abdominal and femoral subcutaneous fat biopsies. Fat cell size, senescent cells using senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase staining per 100 nucleated cells (percentage), and mRNA expression of four cytokines were measured.ResultsThere was a larger proportion of senescent cells in femoral than abdominal subcutaneous AT (mean difference 1.6% [95% CI: 0.98%‐2.3%], p < 0.001), and the percentage of femoral AT senescent cells was greater in women than men (median 3.9% vs. 2.1%, p < 0.01). There was a positive correlation between senescence and fat cell size in abdominal (rs = 0.44, p < 0.001) and femoral (rs = 0.35, p = 0.007) AT depots. Abdominal AT tumor necrosis factor alpha (rs = 0.49, p < 0.01) and interleukin‐1β (rs = 0.44, p = 0.01) expression was positively correlated with abdominal, but not femoral, AT senescence.ConclusionsIn human subcutaneous AT, there are more senescent cells in femoral than abdominal depots; abdominal AT senescent cells are more associated with inflammatory signals than femoral AT senescent cells.
Continuous intravenous anakinra for treating severe secondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis/macrophage activation syndrome in critically ill children
Authors: Charlesworth James E.G. , Wilson Shaun , Qureshi Amrana , Blanco Esther , Mitchell Amy , Segal Shelley , Kelly Dominic , Weitz James , O'Shea Deirdre , Bailey Kathryn , Kavirayani Akhila 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe cytokine storm of secondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH)/macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) can cause life‐threatening multiorgan failure. Interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) receptor blockade with anakinra can be effective in the management of sHLH/MAS. Subcutaneous (SC) dosing regimens are widely described; however, intravenous (IV) dosing is advantageous where time‐critical intervention is vital and where SC oedema and/or hypoperfusion limits absorption.We review three critically ill children (aged 9, 11 and 17) with sHLH and rapidly progressive multiorgan dysfunction, successfully treated with continuous IV anakinra infusion. This case series significantly enhances the incipient knowledge regarding the safety and efficacy of IV anakinra for life‐threatening sHLH.
Long‐term cognitive and academic outcomes among pediatric brain tumor survivors treated with proton versus photon radiotherapy
Authors: Child Amanda E. , Warren Emily A. , Grosshans David R. , Paulino Arnold C. , Okcu M. Fatih , Ris M. Douglas , Mahajan Anita , Orobio Jessica , Cirino Paul T. , Minard Charles G. , Viana Andres G. , Bick Johanna , Woods Steven P. , Chintagumpala Murali , Kahalley Lisa S. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundProton radiotherapy (PRT) may be associated with less neurocognitive risk than photon RT (XRT) for pediatric brain tumor survivors. We compared neurocognitive and academic outcomes in long‐term survivors treated with XRT versus PRT.MethodsSurvivors underwent neurocognitive evaluation >1 year after craniospinal (CSI) or focal PRT or XRT. Groups were compared using separate one‐way analyses of covariance for the CSI and focal groups.ResultsPRT (n = 58) and XRT (n = 30) subgroups were similar on gender (66% male), age at RT (median = 6.5 years), age at follow‐up (median = 14.6 years), and government assistance status (32%). PRT and XRT focal groups differed on follow‐up interval, shunt history, and total RT dose (all p < .05), whereas PRT and XRT CSI groups differed on follow‐up interval, baseline neurocognitive performance score, boost volume, and CSI dose (all p < .05). The PRT focal group outperformed the XRT focal group on inhibition/switching (p = .04). The PRT CSI group outperformed the XRT CSI group on inattention/impulsivity (both p < .05). Several clinical variables (i.e., RT dose, boost field, baseline performance) predicted neurocognitive outcomes (all p < .05). The PRT focal group performed comparably to population means on most neurocognitive measures, while both CSI groups performed below expectation on multiple measures. The XRT CSI group was most impaired. All groups fell below expectation on processing speed, fine motor, and academic fluency (most p < .01).ConclusionsFindings suggest generally favorable neurocognitive and academic long‐term outcomes following focal PRT. Impairment was greatest following CSI regardless of modality. Dosimetry and baseline characteristics are important determinants of outcome alone or in combination with modality.