bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prognostic Nomogram for Predicting 5-year Overall Survival in Chinese Patients With High-grade Osteosarcoma
Authors: Yao Zhihong , Tan Zunxian , Yang Jifei , Yang Yihao , Wang Cao , Chen Jiaxiang , Zhu Yanan , Wang Tiying , Han Lei , Zhu Lin , Yang Zuozhang 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
This study purposed to construct a widely accepted prognostic nomogram in Chinese high-grade osteosarcoma (HOS) patients aged ≤ 30 years to provide insight into predicting 5-year overall survival (OS). Data of 503 consecutive HOS patients at our centre between 12/2012 and 05/2019 were retrospectively collected. The 84 clinical features, routine laboratory haematological and biochemical testing indicators of each patient at the time of diagnosis were collected. A prognostic nomogram model for predicting OS was constructed based on Cox proportional hazards model. The performance was assessed by concordance index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic curve and calibration curve. The utility was evaluated by decision curve analysis. The 5-year OS was 52.1% and 2.6% for the nonmetastatic and metastatic patients, respectively. The nomogram included nine important variables based on a multivariate analysis: tumour stage, surgical type, metastasis, preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy cycle, postoperative metastasis time, mean corpuscular volume, tumour-specific growth factor, gamma-glutamyl transferase and creatinine. The calibration curve showed that the nomogram was able to predict 5-year OS accurately. The C-index of the nomogram for OS prediction was 0.795 (range, 0.703-0.887). Moreover, the decision curve analysis curve also demonstrated the clinical benefit of this model. The nomogram provides an individualized risk estimate of the 5-year OS in patients with HOS aged ≤ 30 years in a Chinese population-based cohort.
Clinical Experience Using the SRS MapCHECK for Patient Specific Plan Verification of Flattening Filter Free, Non-Coplanar Stereotactic Brain Plans Using HyperARC.
Authors: Ashburner Mark , Mugabe Koki 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
HyperArc (HA) treatment planning from Varian is a stereotactic specific planning tool enabling quick and efficient optimisation of treatment planning, and delivery. HA was commissioned and implemented at Waikato Regional Cancer Centre (WRCC) in 2019 to fulfil the demands of dose delivery for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), allowing for treatment of multiple targets with a single isocenter at non-coplanar angles. The extra levels of plan complexity involved in creating and verifying HA SRS plans required extensive checks and verifications using film and an ion chamber, along with a significant allocation of time and resources. The Sun Nuclear SRS MapCHECK (SRSMC) offered an alternative to the cumbersome film measurements. It is an all-encompassing tool meeting the requirements of TG 218 and ICRU 91 for complex treatment plan verification, claiming to save time and effort, without sacrificing accuracy, enabling for a smoother planning and verification process. SRSMC was initially commissioned on 6MV single target treatments using standard planning, then updated and commissioned for 6FFF multi-target non-coplanar treatments using HA. The SRSMC gamma pass rates were compared to film measurements in the same plane, and the central diode CAX reading compared to ionisation chamber measurements at the same position for a range of plans covering a range of PTV sizes and plan complexities. Pass rates on the SRSMC were comparable to measurements using film (Gamma 3%/1mm, 99.41%, 96.39% SRSMC and film respectively). The central diode is an adequate surrogate for a chamber measurement if the SRSMC is positioned in a similar position as that of the ionisation chamber would be – high dose homogenous region, avoiding steep gradients (mean dose difference Diode vs Chamber: -0.73%). Differences between exposing non-coplanar plans at couch 0 and at planned couch angles were negligible (Gamma 3%/1mm 99.28 coplanar, 99.41% non-coplanar on SRSMC). At WRCC the SRSMC has replaced film and chamber measurements for plan verifications of 6FFF HA multiple metastatic brain treatments at a single isocenter and we are currently investigating its use in other treatment sites.
Protection of Entanglement in the Presence of Markovian or Non-Markovian Environment via Particle Velocity : Exact Results
Authors: Park DaeKil 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
On the analytic ground we examine a physical mechanism how particle velocity can protect an entanglement when quantum system is embedded in Markovian or non-Markovian environment. In particular the effect of particle velocity is examined in the entanglement sudden death (ESD) and revival of entanglement (ROE) phenomena. Even though particles move fast, the ESD phenomenon does not disappear if it occurs at zero velocity. However the time domain 0≤t≤t* for nonvanishing entanglement becomes larger and larger with increasing velocity. When ROE phenomenon occurs at zero velocity, even small velocity can make this phenomenon not to occur although the oscillatory behavior of entanglement in time is maintained. For comparatively large velocity the amplitude of the oscillatory behavior becomes extremely small. In this way the entanglement can be protected by particle velocity. The protection of entanglement via velocity is compared with that via the detuning parameter.
A Newly Designed Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogel-Based Gastric ESD Simulator for Trainees: A Pilot Study
Authors: Lee Dong Seok , Kim Ji Won , Lee Kook Lae , Kim Byeong Gwan , Jeong Ji Bong , Lee Gin Hyug 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a useful option for the treatment of a variety of digestive diseases but has the disadvantage of difficulty in acquiring skills. We developed a new polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel (PVA-H)-based gastric ESD simulator and evaluated its usefulness for training with a group of experts.
Methods

A new gastric ESD simulator was constructed with three modules (esophagus, gastric wall, and electric). The expert group tested ten ESD sessions and evaluated the simulator with questionnaires on eight items related to ESD procedures using a 7-point Likert scale.
Results

Compared with the real human stomach, the new ESD simulator showed no inferior success rate in lifting of the submucosal layer (5.00 [4.00–6.00]), cutting of the submucosal layer (6.00 [5.00–6.00]), visibility by bubble (4.00 [4.00–6.00]), thickness of the muscle layer (4.00 [4.00–5.00]), combination of the three layers (6.00 [6.00–7.00]), size of the ESD sheet (6.00 [5.00–6.00]), and connectivity of the electrode (6.00 [6.00–7.00]).
Conclusion

A new PVA-H-based gastric ESD simulator can be helpful for training before performing real human gastric ESD.
Impact of an Aging Population and Shift to Chronic Illness on Emergency Department Admissions in a Tertiary Hospital Over Ten Years
Authors: Hu Zhongxun , Siddiqui Fahad Javaid , Fan Qiao , Lian Sherman WQ , Liu Nan , Ong Marcus EH 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: This study aimed to determine to what extent an aging population and shift to chronic illness has contributed to emergency admissions at a tertiary care hospital over ten years.Methods: This was a retrospective observational study performed using a database of all emergency admissions from the Emergency Department (ED) at a single tertiary hospital in Singapore during a ten-year period (January 1st, 2008 to December 31st, 2017). Emergency admissions were defined as ED visits with inpatient admission as the disposition. This study analyzed the trends of demographics, pre-existing comorbidities, chronic conditions or ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) of all patients who underwent emergency admissions in SGH. Results: A total of 446,484 emergency records were included. While the annual number of emergency admissions increased by 22% from 2008 to 2017, the rate of emergency admissions for the Singapore elderly population (aged >65 years) had a relative decrease of 15% during the same period. For elderly patients, lower proportions of them had pre-existing multimorbidity at the time of undergoing emergency admissions. The proportions of emergency admissions whose ED primary diagnoses were categorized as chronic conditions and certain chronic ACSC including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes complications, and epilepsy also decreased for elderly patients. Conclusions: In Singapore, despite a rapidly ageing population, there have been surprisingly fewer chronic conditions, pre-existing comorbidities, and chronic ACSC among the elderly emergency admissions. This is possibly consistent with an overall improved management of the chronic conditions among the elderly population and will be interesting to compare with other healthcare settings in different countries in future studies.
The Effects of Payer-Mix on Utilization during the COVID-19 Pandemic, in Urgent and Primary Care.
Authors: Dominguez Luis W , Beattie Brandon , Poulose Alexander 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
BackgroundHealthcare utilization has changed dramatically during the COVID-19 crisis with the most dramatic drops coming in April 2020. While a lot of research has focused on utilization among the privately insured, or on comparing specialty-visits, comparatively less has been published on the effect of payer-mix, particularly Medicaid, on utilization. MethodsMonthly patient volume was gathered across 3 ambulatory primary and urgent care clinics. The timeframe included appointments, walk-ins and virtual visits from January through June 2020, including the nadir in April. Patient volume was then compared to average payer mix over that same time, at each clinic. A simple linear regression was then run, comparing changes in patient volume and percent Medicaid. ResultsTwo clinics had similar payer mixes, and saw similar decreases in utilization. A third clinic with twice as many Medicaid patients, saw only half the reduction in patient volume, during the nadir in April 2020. ConclusionGiven the limited number of data points, a more robust statistical analysis was not possible. A simple regression line indicated a correlation between the proportion of Medicaid patients and demand resilience for healthcare resources. At scale, the Medicaid population may be less vulnerable to variations in utilization, exhibiting less elastic demand, despite a pandemic, for a myriad of reasons.
Static Modeling of Braided Pneumatic Muscle Actuator: An Amended Force Model
Authors: Ghosh Saswath , Kumar Deepak , Roy Sitikantha 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
The present study reports an amended static force model for a pneumatic muscle actuator (PMA) used in different aerodynamic and fluid power system applications. The PMA is a fluid actuator, made of a polymeric bladder enclosed in a braided mesh sleeve. A physics-based static model is developed to predict the deformation response of the actuator for different applied pressure. The significant losses, like braid-to-braid friction, non-cylindrical ends, and bladder hyperelasticity effect, have been considered to enhance the model’s practical feasibility. However, a combined effect of all these losses in the PMA was ignored in the literature. The findings of the derived model agree well with existing experimental results.
NCAPG is a Potential Biomarker for Prognosis of Treatment in Children with High-risk Neuroblastoma
Authors: Fu Meng , Wu Wei , Sun Yunxia , Zhao Rui , Li Hao , Li Zhiping 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background High-risk neuroblastoma, as a lethal pediatric tumor, has unfavorable clinical outcomes, and accounts for ~15% of childhood cancer‐related mortality. However, the biomarkers for treatment prognosis have remained largely elusive. The present study sought to identify potential genes associated with the progression and prognosis of high-risk neuroblastoma. Methods The gene expression profiles of neuroblastoma were downloaded from the Gene Expression omnibus (GEO) database, and samples from GSE62564 and GSE16476 were applied as the training set and validation set, respectively. Bioinformatic analysis were performed by R. Subsequently, the biological functions of key gene were investigated by transwell, western blot, and flow cytometry analysis. miRNA that regulated the expression of key gene were predicted and the bind site were validated by luciferase reporter analysis and Q-PCR in children with high-risk neuroblastoma. Results Analysis shown that 120 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the blue module were identified to be significantly related to high-risk neuroblastoma by weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA). After MCODE and Cytohubba algorithm analyses, 26 genes were recognized as hub genes. Subsequently, univariate COX and LASSO regression analyses identified a six-gene signature (NCAPG, UBE2C, MELK, CCNA2, KIF15, and BIRC5) and constructed a prognostic model. The expression of these six genes in high-risk neuroblastoma children was significantly higher than that in non-high-risk neuroblastoma children. These signature genes and the prognostic model demonstrated strong prognostic capability using Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves. Subsequently, NCAPG was selected as key gene and the results indicated that knockdown NCAPG suppressed the migration and invasion, increased the apoptosis rate and decreased the Bcl-2 level in neuroblastoma cells. In addition, the luciferase reporter analysis method showed that miR-495-3p can negatively regulate the expression of NCAPG. Q-PCR indicated that miR-495-3p highly expressed in children with high-risk neuroblastoma. Conclusion Our findings identified that miR-495-3p/ NCAPG could serve as prognostic biomarkers of high-risk neuroblastoma and may advance the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis.
Communicating prognosis to parents in the neonatal ICU: Optimistic vs. PEssimistic – “The “COPE”-Trial“ – Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial using scripted video-vignettes to explore communication preferences of parents of preterm infants
Authors: Forth Fiona A. , Hammerle Florian , König Jochem , Urschitz Michael S. , Neuweiler Philipp , Mildenberger Eva , Kidszun André 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: One of the numerous challenges preterm birth poses for parents and physicians is prognostic disclosure. Prognoses are based on scientific evidence and medical experience. They are subject to individual assessment and, hence, will generally remain uncertain with regard to the individual. This can result in differences in prognostic framing and thus affect the recipients’ perception. In neonatology, data on the effects of prognostic framing are scarce. In particular, it is unclear whether parents prefer a more optimistic or a more pessimistic prognostic framing.Objective: To explore parents’ preferences concerning prognostic framing and its effects on parent reported outcomes and experiences. To identify predictors (demographic, psychological) of parents’ communication preferences.Design, setting, participants: Unblinded, randomized-controlled cross-over trial (RCT) at the Division of Neonatology of the University Medical Center Mainz, Germany, including German-speaking parents or guardians of infants born preterm between 2009 and 2019 with a birth weight <1500g. Inclusion of up to 204 families is planned, with possible reduction according to a blinded sample size reassessment after enrollment of 50 to 70 families, depending on the number of participants per family.Intervention: Embedded in an online-survey and in pre-specified order, participants will watch two video-vignettes depicting a more optimistic vs. a more pessimistic framing in prognostic disclosure to parents of a preterm infant. Apart from prognostic framing, all other aspects of physician-parent communication are standardized in both videos.Main outcomes and measures: At baseline and after each video, participants complete a two-part online-questionnaire (baseline and post-intervention). Primary outcome is the preference for either a more optimistic or a more pessimistic prognostic framing. Secondary outcomes include changes in state-anxiety (STAI-SKD), satisfaction with framing, evaluation of prognosis, future optimism and hope, preparedness for shared decision-making (each assessed using customized questions), and general impression (customized question), professionalism (adapted from GMC Patient Questionnaire) and compassion (Physician Compassion Questionnaire) of the consulting physician.Discussion: This RCT will explore parents’ preferences concerning prognostic framing and its effects on physician-parent communication. Results may contribute to a better understanding of parental needs in prognostic disclosure and will be instrumental for a broad audience of clinicians, scientists and ethicists.Trial registration: drks.de DRKS00024466. Registered on April 16, 2021
Predicting the Presence of Targetable Molecular Alteration(s) With Clinico-metabolic 18F-FDG PET Radiomics in Non-Asian Lung Adenocarcinoma Patients.
Authors: Aide Nicolas , Weys Kathleen , LASNON Charline 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
PurposeTo investigate if combining clinical characteristics with pre-therapeutic 18F-FDG PET radiomics could predict the presence of molecular alteration(s) in key molecular targets in lung adenocarcinoma in order to screen patients who are more likely to benefit from a tumoral molecular analysis. MethodsThis non-interventional mono-centric study prospectively included patients with newly-diagnosed lung adenocarcinoma referred for baseline PET and who had tumoral molecular analyses for the following targets: EGFR, BRAF, KRAS, NRAS, MET, STK11, PIK3CA, ALK and ROS1. Tumoral volumes of interest were analysed using LifeX software. A logistic regression was performed, including sex, age, smoking history, AJCC stage and thirty-one PET variables. A validation process was used by randomly splitting the data in training and validation datasets.ResultsEighty-seven patients were analysed. Forty-seven patients (54.0%) had at least one molecular alteration. Using the training dataset (n=67), five variables were included in the logit model: age, sex, AJCC stage, correlation_GLCM and GLNU_GLZLM. More molecular alterations were observed in women: 88.0% in women versus 40.3% in men (p<0.0001). Other clinical and PET variables were not different between patients with and without molecular alterations. There was a moderate correlation between correlation_GLCM and GLNU_GLZLM (p <0.0001, ρ = 0.591). The ROC analysis for molecular alteration prediction using this model found an area under the curve equal to 0.891 (p<0.0001). A cut-off value set to 0.38 led to a sensitivity of 97.4%, a negative predictive value of 80.4% and a LR+ equal to 3.1. When applying this cut-off value in the validation dataset of patients (n=20), the test presented a sensitivity equal to 88.9%, a NPV equal to 87.5% and a LR+ = 2.4. ConclusionsA clinico-metabolic 18F-FDG PET phenotype allows detecting key molecular target alterations with high sensitivity and NPV thus opens the way to the selection of patients for molecular analysis.
The Impact of SARS-COV-2 Variants on Vaccine Efficacy Amongst Healthcare Workers During India’s Second Wave
Authors: Khawaja Tasveer , Jaswaney Rahul , Arora Nirav , Arora Shilpkumar , Gupta Anjan 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Despite a growing sense of normalcy in many Western nations, another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has spread rapidly through the Indian subcontinent. To improve our understanding of the crisis in India and the impact it is having on healthcare workers, we administered an electronic poll to healthcare workers in India. A total of 199 healthcare workers responded to the survey, the majority of whom were physicians. Of all respondents, 177 had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Of those vaccinated, 14 respondents (7.9%) received the Covaxin® (Bharat Biotech) vaccine, while the remaining 163 respondents (92.1%) received the Covishield® (Oxford-AstraZeneca) vaccine. Of the 177 respondents who received a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, 76 (43%) acquired COVID-19 after vaccination, of which 88% had symptomatic infections. The protection offered by vaccination against new strains of SARS-CoV2 is a central question to which there remains an unclear answer. No external sources of funding were used.
Structural, Morphological and Physical Properties of TiH2 Incorporated Hydroxyapatite
Authors: Amirthalingam Nanthini , Panchatcharam Sathishkumar , Deivarajan THENMUHIL , Paramasivam Manohar 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Titanium incorporated hydroxyapatite preparation was endeavored using TiH2. Titanium has good mechanical properties, good biocompatibility and bioactivity. Titanium incorporated hydroxyapatite material prepared for orthopedic applications were reported to be better mechanical properties. Hydroxyapatite (HAp) was synthesized by wet chemical facile method and after calcination was mixed with TiH2 (5 to 20%).The effect of sintering on phase formation, microstructure, density and porosity of Hap/TiH2was studied by sintering at temperatures from 900°C to 1200°C. The properties of the samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction technique (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy(SEM), Fourier transform spectroscopy (FT-IR), density and porosity. The results from studies showed the presence of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and perovskite (CaTiO3) as the major crystalline phases; while minor reaction products like α-TCP and TTCP were also recorded for samples with higher amount of TiH2irrespective of sintering temperatures. Morphology evaluation by SEM revealed the presence of CaTiO3needle structure at temperature till 1000°C, above which it appeared hexagonal due to crystal growth. Functional groups, density and porosity were also studied.
A Multi-Data Geospatial Approach for Understanding Flood Risk in the Coastal Plains of Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: V Rasme Allat , Sekar Leo George , Kumar Arun Prasad , Karuppusamy Balasubramani 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
The coastal plains of Tamil Nadu (India) are highly vulnerable zone for coastal floods, the most common disaster, experienced every year. In the study, the coastal plain is delineated through a watershed approach with 5020 micro-administrative units covering an area of about 3,000 sq.km. A comprehensive flood risk assessment was carried out by preparation of hazards, vulnerability, and exposure layers using multiple data sources including from field surveys, satellite data and secondary data sources. The flood prone regions are delineated initially from Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar data coupled with SRTM-DEM on a probability scale (0–1) and validated with the District Disaster Management Plans of 13 coastal districts. In addition, National Resources Conservation Service – Curve Number (NRCS-CN) method was adopted to estimate surface runoff potential for flood risks. The vulnerability and exposure of the population to the flood hazards was determined using census and household data based indicators. A focused group interview was conducted at 514 locations targeting deprived communities of all major settlements of the study area. The public perceptions were used to understand the flood risks and to validate the hazard and vulnerability layers. To estimate location-specific flood risks within the micro-administrative units, built-up areas with different categories were delineated and intersected with the flood hazard. The amalgamation of results shows that very high flood risk prevails in the northern parts of coastal Tamil Nadu, especially the stretch between Chennai and Cuddalore. In addition to provide a baseline datasets for the first time at micro-administrative units for entire coastal plains of Tamil Nadu, the study offers a pragmatic methodology for sustainable development measures in general and flood risk management in particular.