bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The “Cicero”/“Cicero” Puzzling Case
Authors: Bonardi Paolo 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThis paper aims to solve the following twofold problem. Suppose that a rational speaker, Ralph, mistakenly takes (for some reason) the Roman orator Cicero and the World War II German spy Cicero to be the same individual. By sincerely uttering the sentence “Cicero is an orator and a spy”, (a) does Ralph use the name “Cicero” of the Roman orator or the name “Cicero” of the German spy or another name of the genus “Cicero”? And (b) which Cicero does Ralph refer to: the Roman orator, the German spy, both of them or neither of them? After drawing a distinction between the notion of mistaking one individual for another (exemplified by Kripke's “Jones”/“Smith” case and Putnam's “water”/“water” case) and the notion of wrongly taking two individuals to be one and the same individual (exemplified by the “Cicero”/“Cicero” case under discussion), I will defend the following solution to the last puzzling case: Ralph inadvertently creates an abstract individual playing the role of “fusion” or “amalgam” of the two Ciceros and also inadvertently creates a new name “Cicero” referring to such an individual.
Genomic assessment of the Phyllodactylus tuberculosus complex (Reptilia: Phyllodactylidae) in America
Authors: Ramírez‐Reyes Tonatiuh , Flores‐Villela Oscar , Piñero Daniel , Lathrop Amy , Murphy Robert W. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractLeaf‐toed geckos (Phyllodactylus) exhibit much cryptic diversity, at least in North America. However, the origins of Central American taxa and their relationships with North American congeners remain unknown. The P. tuberculosus species complex is ideal for evolutionary and biogeographic studies because its geographic distribution extends from northern Mexico to Costa Rica. We analyse ~2,500 nuclear loci obtained by the GBS genomic technique to test hypotheses of genetic isolation among taxa and estimate times of divergence using a relaxed molecular clock model, which constitutes the first hypothesis for the diversification of North and Central American phyllodactylids. Phylogenetic analysis recovers three main clades within polyphyletic P. tuberculosus: tuberculosus, magnus and saxatilis. ABBA‐BABA tests show moderate to low levels of gene flow within the latter two clades and yet genetic isolation in Central American lineages. The relaxed molecular clock model dates the age of the MRCA between the Central American and North American lineages to the beginning of the Paleocene (65 mya), suggesting an ancestral distribution in the proto‐Mexican region and the Chortis Block.
Coherence and mixedness of neutrino oscillations in a magnetic field
Authors: Kurashvili Podist , Chotorlishvili Levan , Kouzakov Konstantin , Studenikin Alexander 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe radical departure from classical physics implies quantum coherence, i.e., coherent superposition of eigenstates of Hermitian operators. In resource theory, quantum coherence is a resource for quantum operations. Typically the stochastic phenomenon induces decoherence effects. However, in the present work, we prove that nonunitary evolution leads to the generation of quantum coherence in some cases. Specifically, we consider the neutrino propagation in the dissipative environment, namely in a magnetic field with a stochastic component, and focus on neutrino flavour, spin and spin-flavour oscillations. We present exact analytical results for quantum coherence in neutrino oscillations quantified in terms of the relative entropy. Starting from an initial zero coherence state, we observe persistent oscillations of coherence during the dissipative evolution of an ultra-high energy neutrino in a random interstellar magnetic field. We found that after dissipative evolution, the initial spin-polarized state entirely “thermalizes”, and in the final steady state, the spin-up/down states have the same probabilities. On the other hand, neutrino flavour states also “thermalize”, but the populations of two flavour states do not equate to each other. The initial flavour still dominates in the final steady state.
Incidence and Impact of Routine Inflammatory Parameters on Outcome after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
Authors: Patsalis Polykarpos C , Aweimer Assem , Scharkowski Henrik , Useini Dritan , Haldenwang Peter Lukas , Strauch Justus Thomas , Canbay Ali , Mügge Andreas , Katsounas Antonios 
Published: April 2021

Background. Previous research reported adverse clinical outcomes in association with systemic inflammation (SI) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, data characterizing the impact of SI, as reflected by postprocedural routine inflammatory parameters (pRIP), on clinical outcome of patients undergoing TAVR are sparse. Objectives. In light of this, the present work aimed to analyze incidence and clinical significance of pRIP after transapical (TA) and transfemoral (TF)-TAVR. Methods and Results. Data of 81 high-risk consecutive patients undergoing TAVR in our center from 2017 to 2018 were analyzed in a retrospective manner. 40 out of 81 patients (49, 4%) were treated via TF access (group A) and 41 patients via TA access (group B). Incidence, cause, and amplitude of pRIP were analyzed in relation to pre- and peri-interventional data. Assessment of outcomes was conducted according to the valve academic research consortium (VARC-2). Postprocedural C-reactive protein (pCRP) and leucocytes (pL) were significantly increased in patients undergoing TA-TAVR (group B) vs. TF-TAVR (group A; 12.1 ± 9.7 vs. 22.1 ± 7.9 mg/dl,

p

< 0.001 and 12.8 ± 4.0 vs. 14.2 ± 3.8/nl,

p

= 0.002); however, there was no significant difference regarding incidence of postprocedural fever (pF) ≥38.0°C (12.5% vs. 22%,

p

= 0.37). Furthermore, we observed a vast (though insignificant) trend towards a longer fever duration in group B vs. group A (9.9 ± 14.9 vs. 3.2 ± 5.9 hours,

p

= 0.06). Further analysis identified pCRP >30 mg/dl (hazard ratio (HR) 3.15, confidence interval (CI) 1.22–8.14,

p

= 0.018) and European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (logistic EuroSCORE I (ES)) >20% (HR 2.95, CI 1.17–7.47,

p

= 0.02) as predictors of mortality; in this context, we also discovered a marginally significant trend for pL > 14/nl (HR 2.44, CI 0.97–6.14,

p

= 0.05). Multivariate analysis by use of the fisher`s exact test revealed a significant association between pCRP >30 mg/dl and ES >20% (

p

< 0.001). Conclusion. pRIP are significantly increased in patients undergoing TA-TAVR. pCRP >30 mg/dl, ES>20%, and pL > 14/nl are hallmark of adverse prognosis and require further investigation.
Altering the Microbiome Inhibits Tumorigenesis in a Mouse Model of Oviductal High-Grade Serous Carcinoma
Authors: Chen Lixing , Zhai Yali , Wang Yisheng , Fearon Eric R. , Núñez Gabriel , Inohara Naohiro , Cho Kathleen R. 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Studies have shown bacteria influence the initiation and progression of cancers arising in sites that harbor rich microbial communities, such as the colon. Little is known about the potential for the microbiome to influence tumorigenesis at sites considered sterile, including the upper female genital tract. The recent identification of distinct bacterial signatures associated with ovarian carcinomas suggests microbiota in the gut, vagina, or elsewhere might contribute to ovarian cancer pathogenesis. Here, we tested whether altering the microbiome affects tumorigenesis in a mouse model of high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) based on conditional oviduct-specific inactivation of the Brca1, Trp53, Rb1, and Nf1 tumor suppressor genes. Cohorts of control (n = 20) and antibiotic-treated (n = 23) mice were treated with tamoxifen to induce tumor formation and then monitored for 12 months. The antibiotic cocktail was administered for the first 5 months of the monitoring period in the treatment group. Antibiotic-treated mice had significantly fewer and less advanced tumors than control mice at study endpoint. Antibiotics induced changes in the composition of the intestinal and vaginal microbiota, which were durable in the fecal samples. Clustering analysis showed particular groups of microbiota are associated with the development of HGSC in this model. These findings demonstrate the microbiome influences HGSC pathogenesis in an in vivo model that closely recapitulates the human disease. Because the microbiome can modulate efficacy of cancer chemo- and immunotherapy, our genetically engineered mouse model system may prove useful for testing whether altering the microbiota can improve the heretofore poor response of HGSC to immunotherapies.

Significance:
This study provides strong in vivo evidence for a role of the microbiome in ovarian cancer pathogenesis.
NF-κB Blockade with Oral Administration of Dimethylaminoparthenolide (DMAPT), Delays Prostate Cancer Resistance to Androgen Receptor (AR) Inhibition and Inhibits AR Variants
Authors: Morel Katherine L. , Hamid Anis A. , Clohessy John G. , Pandell Nicole , Ellis Leigh , Sweeney Christopher J. 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

NF-κB activation has been linked to prostate cancer progression and is commonly observed in castrate-resistant disease. It has been suggested that NF-κB–driven resistance to androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) in prostate cancer cells may be mediated by aberrant androgen receptor (AR) activation and AR splice variant production. Preventing resistance to ADT may therefore be achieved by using NF-κB inhibitors. However, low oral bioavailability and high toxicity of NF-κB inhibitors is a major challenge for clinical translation. Dimethylaminoparthenolide (DMAPT) is an oral NF-κB inhibitor in clinical development and has already shown favorable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodyanamic data in patients with heme malignancies, including decrease of NF-κB in circulating leuchemic blasts. Here, we report that activation of NF-κB/p65 by castration in mouse and human prostate cancer models resulted in a significant increase in AR variant-7 (AR-V7) expression and modest upregulation of AR. In vivo castration of VCaP-CR tumors resulted in significant upregulation of phosphorylated-p65 and AR-V7, which was attenuated by combination with DMAPT and DMAPT increased the efficacy of AR inhibition. We further demonstrate that the effects of DMAPT-sensitizing prostate cancer cells to castration were dependent on the ability of DMAPT to inhibit phosphorylated-p65 function.

Implications:
Our study shows that DMAPT, an oral NF-κB inhibitor in clinical development, inhibits phosphorylated-p65 upregulation of AR-V7 and delays prostate cancer castration resistance. This provides rationale for the development of DMAPT as a novel therapeutic strategy to increase durable response in patients receiving AR-targeted therapy.
An annotated checklist of amphibians in and around Dampa Tiger Reserve, Mizoram, India
Authors: Decemson Ht. , Gouda Sushanto , Lalbiakzuala  , Lalmuansanga  , Hmar Gospel Zothanmawia , H.T. Lalremsanga  
Published: April 2021

Amphibians are an integral part of the ecosystem and act as an ecological indicator. As several species are added to the list of threatened species every year due to loss of habitat, it is important to understand the role of unmanaged landscape for sustenance of amphibian diversity. In this study, 28 amphibian species were recorded from different modified habitat including 19 new records for Dampa Tiger Reserve (DTR) and its surrounding areas. Further, six species, Amolops indoburmanensis, Limnonectes khasianus, Microhyla mukhlesuri, M. mymensinghensis, Raorchestes rezakhani, and Sylvirana lacrima are new distribution records for the state of Mizoram and out of these, two species, Raorchestes rezakhani and Sylvirana lacrima, are new country records for India. Amongst the recorded species, four species are Data Deficient, two Vulnerable, 14 Least Concern, and eight species are not assessed as per the IUCN Red List. Within the core and buffer areas of DTR, we found that natural perennial stream, puddles, canals, natural ponds, fish ponds, roadside, primary forest, secondary forest, paddy fields, and human settlement areas are excellent microhabitats for amphibian population and need to be conserved for their rich ecological niches.
Evaluating the Quality of Cost-Effectiveness Literature in Breast Surgery: What Do We Do Well and How Can We Do Better? A Systematic Review
Authors: Char Sydney N. , Bloom Joshua A. , DeMarco Danielle , Chatterjee Abhishek 
Published: April 2021

Background Surgical options for breast cancer are numerous and span multiple surgical disciplines. Decision analyses aid surgeons in making the most cost-effective choice, thus reducing health care expenditure while maximizing patient outcome. In this study, we aimed to evaluate existing breast surgery cost-effectiveness literature against the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) validated scoring system. Methods A PRISMA search was performed for cost-effectiveness within breast surgery. Articles were scored with CHEERS criteria on a 0-24 scale and qualitative data were collected. Subgroup analysis was performed comparing pre-CHEERS (published in 2013 or earlier) and post-CHEERS (published in 2014 or later) cohorts. Chi-squared analysis was performed to compare where studies lost points between cohorts. Results Of 2279 articles screened, 46 articles were included. The average CHEERS score was 18.18. Points were most often lost for characterizing heterogeneity, followed by discount rate, incremental costs and outcomes, and abstract. Quality-adjusted life year was the most commonly used health outcome, with visual model or analog scales as the most commonly used measure of effectiveness obtained primarily from surgeons or physicians. Most articles characterized uncertainty by deterministic sensitivity analysis, followed by both deterministic and probabilistic, then probabilistic. Average CHEERS scores were similar between pre- and post-CHEERS cohorts (17.67 vs. 18.40, P > .05) There were several significant differences in where articles lost points between pre- and post-CHEERS cohorts. Discussion In order to standardize the reporting of results, cost-effectiveness studies in breast surgery should adhere to the current CHEERS criteria and aim to better characterize heterogeneity in their analyses.
The Virtue of Hope in Medical Training
Authors: Frush Benjamin W. , Eberly John Brewer 
Published: April 2021

While many of the challenges of contemporary medical training are characterized uniformly as “burnout,” such a diagnosis is nonspecific and overlooks the degree to which the flourishing of medical practitioners depends on the development and exercise of virtue. The virtue of hope, in particular, is indispensable to sound medical practice generally and the flourishing of trainees. It is only through sound apprehension of the nature of the virtue of hope, the challenges to the cultivation of hope that residency poses, and practices that allow such cultivation, that contemporary trainees can learn to care well for patients and flourish in their own right. Summary: While the general term “burnout” is used to describe many of the challenges of contemporary medical training, a more precise characterization that unifies these challenges is a deficiency of the virtue of hope. Medical trainees face many obstacles to the cultivation of hope during training, but learning both to correctly identify this deficiency, and practices which prove a fitting response, offers a way forward.
The Impact of For-Profit Higher Education on Brazilian Education
Authors: Mesquita de Almeida Wilson 
Published: April 2021

For-profit private higher education in Brazil emerged in the 1970s through state incentives such as educational credit and tax exemptions. In its most recent configuration, the logic of investment funds that trade on the stock exchange controls the largest institutions. The management of investment funds inserts a new variable into the investment of financial resources. It requires reducing costs to maximize shareholder value, but this means delivering precarious educational quality. Governed by a logic of maximum profit, for-profit private higher education in Brazil produces extremely poor education, with the result that most such institutions focus on simply being diploma factories for more socially destitute students O ensino superior privado com fins lucrativos no Brasil surgiu na década de 1970 por meio de incentivos estatais, tais como crédito educacional e isenção de impostos. Na sua configuração mais recente, a lógica dos fundos de investimento que negociam em bolsa controla as maiores instituições. A gestão de fundos de investimento insere uma nova variável na aplicação dos recursos financeiros. Requer redução de custos para maximizar o valor para o acionista, mas isso significa a entrega de um nível educacional bastante precário. Regido por uma lógica de lucro máximo, o ensino superior privado com fins lucrativos no Brasil gera uma educação extremamente pobre e consequentemente a maioria delas focam somente no fato de se tornarem fábricas de diplomas para alunos dos meios socialmente mais desprovidos.
Preoperative nutritional status impacts clinical outcome and hospital length of stay in pelvic exenteration patients – a retrospective study
Authors: Hogan Sophie , Steffens Daniel , Vuong Kenneth , Rangan Anna , Solomon Michael , Carey Sharon 
Published: April 2021

Background: Preoperative malnutrition is common in surgical oncology patients and can have negative effects on postoperative outcomes. Pelvic exenteration is major surgery associated with high morbidity rates. Associations between preoperative malnutrition, determined using the patient-generated subjective global assessment, and postoperative outcomes in this patient cohort has not yet been investigated. Aim: To determine if preoperative nutritional status is associated with postoperative surgical and quality of life (QoL) outcomes after pelvic exenteration surgery. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a quaternary hospital investigating 123 patients who had pelvic exenteration surgery from January 2017 to August 2019. Preoperative nutritional status and postoperative surgical and QoL outcomes were collected and analysed to determine any associations. Results: Overall, 49.6% of patients were female with a median age of 59 years. Forty patients (32.5%) were malnourished and 83 (67.5%) were well nourished before surgery. Well-nourished patients had a shorter length of hospital stay ( p = 0.034) and at 6 months post-surgery, presented with a significantly better physical and mental QoL score ( p = 0.038 and p = 0.001 respectively). The regression analyses showed that intensive care unit (ICU) readmission rates were 7.19 times more likely to occur in malnourished patients ( p = 0.022). Conclusions: Preoperative malnutrition is associated with increased length of stay, ICU readmissions and poorer QoL following pelvic exenteration. Nutrition screening, assessment and optimisation of management are essential in this patient cohort to improve patient outcomes. Future studies are needed to measure the effect of interventions and identify the most beneficial model of care for this complex patient group.
Non-invasive assessment of heterogeneity of gliomas using diffusion and perfusion MRI: correlation with spatially co-registered PET
Authors: Zhang Ying , Lin Yu , Xing Zhen , Yao Shaobo , Cao Dairong , Miao Wei-bing 
Published: April 2021

Background Heterogeneity of gliomas challenges the neuronavigated biopsy and oncological therapy. Diffusion and perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can reveal the cellular and hemodynamic heterogeneity of tumors. Integrated positron emission tomography (PET)/MRI is expected to be a non-invasive imaging approach to characterizing glioma. Purpose To evaluate the value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and spatially co-registered maximal standard uptake value (SUVmax) for tissue characterization and glioma grading. Material and Methods Thirty-seven consecutive patients with pathologically confirmed gliomas were retrospectively investigated. The relative minimum ADC (rADCmin), relative maximal ADC (rADCmax), relative maximal rCBV (rCBVmax), the relative minimum rCBV (rCBVmin), and the corresponding relative SUVmax (rSUVmax) were measured. The paired t-test was used to compare the quantitative parameters between different regions to clarify tumor heterogeneity. Imaging parameters between WHO grade IV and grade II/III gliomas were compared by t-test. The diagnostic efficiency of multiparametric PET/MRI was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results The values of rSUVmax were significantly different between maximal diffusion/perfusion area and minimum diffusion/perfusion area ( P < 0.001/ P < 0.001) within tumor. The values of rADCmin ( P < 0.001), rCBVmax ( P = 0.002), and corresponding rSUVmax ( P = 0.001/ P < 0.001) could be used for grading gliomas. The areas under the ROC curves of rSUVmax defined by rADCmin and rCBVmax were 0.89 and 0.91, respectively. Conclusion Diffusion and perfusion MRI can detect glioma heterogeneity with excellent molecular imaging correlations. Regions with rCBVmax suggest tissues with the highest metabolism and malignancy for guiding glioma grading and tissue sampling.
Systemic lupus erythematosus in children and adults: A retrospective study in Brazilian patients
Authors: Bortolini Maria Fernanda Ferraz , Pereira Vitória Peres , Gomes Dos Santos Thiago AF , Nisihara Renato , Skare Thelma L 
Published: April 2021

Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may have a different serological and clinical profile according to age of disease onset. Aim To compare clinical presentation and serological data from patients with SLE onset in childhood (cSLE) with disease onset in adulthood (aSLE) in a sample of Brazilian patients. Methods Retrospective study of 614 SLE patients from a single Rheumatology Unit from Brazil: 77 (12.5%) cSLE and 537 (87.4%) aSLE. Clinical and serological data were obtained from the charts. Comparisons of cSLE with aSLE in general and according to patient’s gender were made. Results The comparison of whole sample showed that children had more malar rash (p = 0.04), seizures (p < 0.0001), psychosis (p = 0.02), glomerulonephritis (p = 0.001), anti-dsDNA (p = 0.008), anticardiolipin IgM (p = 0.04) but less discoid lesions (p = 0.01), anti-Ro (p < 0.0001) and anti-La antibodies (p = 0.007). When only the male sample was compared, no differences in glomerulonephritis and anti-dsDNA frequencies were found. Conclusion Children had a higher frequency of severe manifestations (glomerulonephritis and central nervous system) than adults. The difference in glomerulonephritis occurrence disappeared when only males were compared.
Why women judges really matter: The impact of women judges on property law outcomes in Kenya
Authors: Gayoye Martha 
Published: April 2021

In this paper, I discuss the impact that women judges have made in property law outcomes in Kenya. The study shows that women judges were able to influence a feminist jurisprudence in matrimonial property and inheritance disputes peripherally even though they were not sitting in some of those cases – through trainings of other [male] judges and informal interactions with colleagues. I argue that there is need to focus lens on the collaborative and networking programmes of women judges to bring about institutional change as opposed to a focus on individual women judges. The findings suggest that studies that focus on individual [women] judges have far less potential to uncover the impact of collective efforts of women judges. Existing studies are based largely on Anglo-American positivist methodologies that are based on methodological individualism over collectivism. It is no wonder that the collective efforts of women judges under the auspices of the International Women Judges Association has received little to no scholarly attention.