bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Changes in weight following peroral endoscopic myotomy: results from a North American center
Authors: Hew Simon , Motomura Douglas , Bechara Robert 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background and study aims Weight loss is a feature of untreated achalasia. While weight gain after achalasia treatment is expected, little data exist about the extent of it, particularly after peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). We aimed to describe the changes in weight after POEM.
Patients and methods A retrospective analysis was performed of patients from March 2016 to March 2020 undergoing POEM by an experienced operator at an academic referral center in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Data examined included pre- and post-POEM body mass index (BMI), procedural characteristics, and Eckardt scores.
Results Ninety-two patients underwent POEM during the study period, for 77 of whom follow-up data were available including BMI. Prior to POEM, the median BMI was 26. Six patients (7.8 %) were considered to be underweight, 24 (31.2 %) were normal, 26 (33.8 %) were pre-obese, and 21 (27.2 %) were obese. At a median follow-up of 15 months, the clinical success rate was 95 %. Patients in the normal weight and pre-obesity categories had a significant increase in weight post-POEM. Of the underweight patients, two (33.3 %) moved up to a normal weight category and two (33.3 %) became pre-obese. In the normal BMI category, eight (37.5 %) became pre-obese and one patient (4.2 %) became obese. Ten of the 26 pre-obese patients (38.4 %) were obese post-POEM. Seven of the obese patients (33.3 %) reached Class III (morbid) obesity at follow-up.
Conclusions Patients may experience a marked increase in BMI following POEM, with over one-third of patients becoming pre-obese, obese or morbidly obese at follow-up in our study in a North American population. Further study is required to analyze weight gain patterns post-POEM.
Co-existing inflammatory bowel disease and Barrett’s esophagus is associated with esophageal dysplasia: a propensity score-matched cohort
Authors: Fasullo Matthew , Sreenivasen Aditya , Holzwanger Erik , Lavender Charles , Patel Milan , Shah Tilak , Mutha Pritesh , Yacavone Robert F. , Sultan Keith , Trindade Arvind J. , Smallfield George 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackground and study aims Barrettʼs esophagus (BE) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) predispose to the development of dysplasia and cancer. It is unclear if the inflammatory cascade seen in IBD affects disease progression in BE. We aimed to determine if patients with BE who have co-existing IBD had a higher risk of dysplasia, nodular disease, or longer segments than BE patients without IBD.Patients and methods This was a multicenter, retrospective propensity score-matched cohort study. We compared rates of dysplasia, nodular disease, and segment length in patients with BE and IBD (cases) to patients with BE who did not have IBD (controls). Controls were 1:1 propensity score matched with controls for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking, and hiatal hernia.Results A total of 132 patients were included in the IBD + BE group and 132 patients in the BE group. Patients with IBD + BE had higher rates of esophageal dysplasia compared to controls (15.9 % vs. 6.1 % [adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 2.9, 95 % CI: 1.2–6.9]) and more nodules (9.8 % vs. 3.0 % [adjusted OR: 3.5, 95 % CI: 1.1–11.0]). IBD + BE group was also associated with longer BE segments (43.9 % vs. 12.1 % [OR: 5.7, 95 % CI: 3.0–10.6]).Conclusions Co-existing IBD may increase the risk of dysplasia and esophageal nodules in patients with BE. Our findings may have implications for BE surveillance intervals in IBD patients. Prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings.
Update on MicroRNA-based Treatment Strategies
Authors: Hesse Eric , Jakob Franz , Taipaleenmäki Hanna 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe family of RNAs comprises several members, protein coding mRNAs and a larger
group of non-coding RNAs, which include small, approximately 21-25 nucleotides
long microRNAs (miRNAs). In addition to an evolving diagnostic use of RNAs,
RNA-based drugs are emerging very rapidly in medicine, which is not only -but
currently very prominently visible- due to the impressive success of the
first-in-class Covid-19 vaccines such as Comirnaty and Moderna (marketed by the
companies Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna, respectively). Although
administration of RNA-based drugs comes along with several technical obstacles
including delivery approaches, the technology is experiencing a breakthrough and
technical and conceptual hurdles that may still remain are very likely to be
overcome within the near future. It is therefore highly likely that RNA-based
pharmacotherapies may revolutionize medicine by improving vaccination concepts
but also by providing novel drugs to treat many other conditions like cancer,
metabolic- and degenerative diseases and beyond. It is fascinating to witness
the rise of such milestones in medicine and is tempting to elaborate which
additional accomplishments can be made using this technology towards
personalized medicine comprising diagnostic and therapeutic aspects as well as
individual drug design.Although the most recent success with mRNA-based and therefore protein coding
vaccines currently takes center stage in media and people’s life, other
types of RNAs that are less prominent to the public, like non-coding miRNAs,
also develop very successfully towards diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
While the diagnostic use of miRNAs was reviewed in another article in this issue
(see article from Hackl et al., this issue), this brief review
will provide an update on the emerging therapeutic implications of miRNAs.
Despite the fact that no miRNA-based drug has yet reached clinical approval,
several compounds are in pre-clinical and clinical development for the treatment
of various diseases and great progress has been made during the recent years,
which also facilitated the establishment of several innovative biotech
companies.Several obstacles associated with this novel approach including off-target
effects, tissue specificity and delivery systems exist. However, important
improvements have already been made and will continue to be made. It can
therefore be assumed that treatments using this class of RNA will also further
progress and stimulate additional stakeholders to enter the field to develop
novel drug candidates as first-in-class medicinal products to address highly
unmet clinical needs. This technology is still at its infancy given that miRNAs
were uncovered just about 20 years ago but the conditions are promising for the
development of next generation miRNA-based drugs.
Quantification of a New Antifungal Drug Based on 1,3,4-Thiadiazole by
HPLC-ESI/MS: Method Development, Validation and Pharmacokinetic
Application
Authors: Sipkina Nadezhda Yur'evna , Sipkin Denis Igorevich , Yakovlev Igor Pavlovich 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe high sensitive HPLC-ESI/MS method for quantitative determination of a
new antifungal drug –
2-[(1Z)-1-(3,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2(3Н)-ylidene)methyl]-3,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-3-ium
chloride (TDZ) – was developed and fully validated. TDZ was separated
from plasma and urine samples by acetonitrile deproteinization and extraction
without time-consuming sample preparation. The reversed-phase high-performance
liquid chromatography on Kromasil 100–3.5 C8 column of TDZ in
isocratic elution mode using 0.03% trifluoroacetic acid : acetonitrile
(65:35, v/v) at a flow rate of
0.2 mL min−1 was performed. Determination
of TDZ was carried out by a positive electrospray ionization in a selected ion
monitoring mode for [M+]=489 m/z. The
method of absolute calibration was used for quantification of TDZ in two
concentrations ranges:
100–2500 pg mL−1 and
2500–30 000 pg mL−1. The
established method showed a good linearity (R=0.999 for both ranges),
the limits of determination and quantification were 50 and
100 pg mL−1, respectively. The Intra- and
Inter-day precision values were measured by t-Distribution and Fisher′s
Exact Test and were in accordance with the regulatory guidance. Low matrix
effects and good recovery were found for TDZ. The present method was
successfully applied to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of TDZ by means
of intravenous and oral administrations to rats at
5.0 mg kg−1 and
10.0 mg kg−1, respectively.
Biaryl Synthesis via Electrooxidative Transition-Metal-Catalyzed C–H Activation
Authors: Zeng Zhongyi , Gooßen Lukas J. , Goebel Jonas F. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe use of electricity as an inexpensive and waste-free oxidant opens up new opportunities for the development of sustainable C–H functionalization reactions. Herein we summarize recent advances in the synthesis of biaryls through electrooxidative processes involving transition-metal-catalyzed ortho-directed C–H activation. A particular focus is set on electrooxidative C–H/C–M couplings and dehydrogenative couplings.1	Introduction2	Electrooxidative C–H/C–M Couplings3	Electrooxidative C–H/C–H Couplings4	Conclusion and Outlook
Opportunities and Challenges of Telehealth in Disease Management during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review
Authors: Alipour Jahanpour , Hayavi-Haghighi Mohammad Hosein 
Published: September 2021

AbstractObjective The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an unexpected universal problem that has changed health care access across the world. Telehealth is an effective solution for health care delivery during disasters and public health emergencies. This study was conducted to summarize the opportunities and challenges of using telehealth in health care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods A structured search was performed in the Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus databases, as well as the Google Scholar search engine, for studies published until November 4, 2020. The reviewers analyzed 112 studies and identified opportunities and challenges. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) protocols. Quality appraisal was done according to the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2018. Thematic analysis was applied for data analysis.Results A total of 112 unique opportunities of telehealth application during the pandemic were categorized into 4 key themes, such as (1) clinical, (2) organizational, (3) technical, and (4) social, which were further divided into 11 initial themes and 26 unique concepts. Furthermore, 106 unique challenges were categorized into 6 key themes, such as (1) legal, (2) clinical, (3) organizational, (40 technical, (5) socioeconomic, and (6) data quality, which were divided into 16 initial themes and 37 unique concepts altogether. The clinical opportunities and legal challenges were the most frequent opportunities and challenges, respectively.Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated the use of telehealth. This study could offer useful information to policymakers about the opportunities and challenges of implementing telehealth for providing accessible, safe, and efficient health care delivery to the patient population during and after COVID-19. Furthermore, it can assist policymakers to make informed decisions on implementing telehealth in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by addressing the obstacles ahead.
Mastoid Obliteration Using Bioactive Glass—Our Experience
Authors: Velusamy Anand , Hameed Nazrin , Anand Aishwarya 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcome of cavity obliteration with bioactive glass in patients with cholesteatoma undergoing canal wall down mastoidectomy with reconstruction of the canal wall.
Materials and Methods A prospective study was conducted over a period of 3 years on 25 patients who underwent mastoid obliteration with bioactive glass following canal wall down mastoidectomy for cholesteatoma. The primary outcome measure was the presence of a dry, low-maintenance mastoid cavity that was free of infection, assessed, and graded according to the grading system by Merchant et al at the end of 1 and 6 months postoperatively. Secondary outcome measures included presence of postoperative complications like wound infection, posterior canal wall bulge, and residual perforation.
Results Out of the 25 patients on whom this study was conducted, at the end of 1 month 60% had a completely dry ear, 28% of patients had grade 1, and 12% had grade 2 otorrhea at the end of the first month. At the end of 6 months, 72% had a completely dry ear, while 20% had grade 1 and 8% had grade 2 otorrhea. There were no cases with grade 3 otorrhea during the entire follow-up period. Postoperative complications of the posterior canal bulge were noted in two patients (8%), and one patient (4%) had a residual perforation.
Conclusion Mastoid cavity obliteration with bioactive glass is an effective technique to avoid cavity problems.
The Function and Expression of ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters Proteins in the Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Aykac Asli , Sehirli Ahmet Özer 
Published: September 2021

AbstractDespite many years of research, radical treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has still not been found. Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide is known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease. AD is characterized by three main changes occurring in the central nervous system: (1) Aβ plaque accumulation that prevents synaptic communication, (2) the accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins that inhibit the transport of molecules inside neurons, and (3) neuronal cell loss of the limbic system. Mechanisms leading to Aβ accumulation in AD are excessive Aβ production as a result of mutations in amyloid precursor protein or genes, and impairment of clearance of Aβ due to changes in Aβ aggregation properties and/or Aβ removal processes. Human ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are expressed in astrocyte, microglia, neuron, brain capillary endothelial cell, choroid plexus, choroid plexus epithelial cell, and ventricular ependymal cell. ABC transporters have essential detoxification and neuroprotective roles in the brain. The expression and functional changes in ABC transporters contribute to the accumulation of Aβ peptide. In conclusion, the review was aimed to summarize and highlight accumulated evidence in the literature focusing on the changing functions of human ABC transporter members, in AD pathogenesis and progression.
Exciton dispersion in para-quaterphenyl: Significant molecular interactions beyond Coulomb coupling
Authors: Graf Lukas , Krupskaya Yulia , Büchner Bernd , Knupfer Martin 
Published: September 2021

We have experimentally determined the momentum dependence of the electronic excitation spectra of para-quaterphenyl single crystals. The parallel arrangement of para-quaterphenyl molecules results in a strong Coulomb coupling of the molecular excitons. Such crystals have been considered to be a very good realization of the Frenkel exciton model, including the formation of H-type aggregates. Our data reveal an unexpected exciton dispersion of the upper Davydov component, which cannot be rationalized in terms of inter-molecular Coulomb coupling of the excitons. A significant reduction of the nearest neighbor coupling due to additional charge-transfer processes is able to provide an explanation of the data. Furthermore, the spectral onset of the excitation spectrum, which represents a heavy exciton resulting from exciton–phonon coupling, also shows a clear dispersion, which had been unknown so far. Finally, an optically forbidden excitation about 1 eV above the excitation onset is observed.
Optimal design of micro-topography on natural leaf surface
Authors: Wang Lei , Zhao Feng , Tang Shousheng , Zhao Hongbin , Liu Jing 
Published: September 2021

Optimal design of flexible micro-topography is of fundamental importance for numerous applications, such as in membranes, sensors, and MEMS. Different from rigid micro-topography, surfaces displaying flexible micro-topography are able to absorb external energy by transforming their shape, which makes them suitable to be used under complex operating conditions. In this study, we find that the micro-structures occurring on biological natural surfaces all have a common structural feature, namely, an ellipsoid shape. The flexible sleek micro-structures without right angles are able to decrease the stress concentration and deformation in the loading process, which may prevent the nano-structures from being damaged on the upper surfaces. To clearly understand the performance of these micro-topographies, a series model is established by force analysis. The model uncovers the design principles that lead to the mechanical enhancement of natural composites for expanding the application of flexible micro-/nano-structured membranes.
Acquisition or shift?
Authors: Dunn Vivien , Meakins Felicity , Algy Cassandra 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
This chapter examines the spatial description system employed by Gurindji children in Kalkaringi (Northern Territory, Australia) to describe ternary relations in small-scale space. While Gurindji is the traditional language of Kalkaringi, a new variety, Gurindji Kriol, has developed as a result of language contact, and is now the first language of young adults and children. Speakers of Gurindji use cardinal directions in descriptions of both small-scale and large-scale space, whereas cardinal terms are almost never used to describe small-scale in naturally-occurring Gurindji Kriol speech. We show that the strategies preferred by children differ from those used by their parents, who produce predominantly cardinal descriptions. Instead, Gurindji Kriol-speaking children show variable use between cardinals and landmark-based strategies.
Foundings and futures
Authors: Lim Lisa , Ansaldo Umberto 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
This chapter contemplates the positioning of the Peranakans (also known as Straits-born Chinese or Babas) – descendants of southern Chinese seafaring traders to the Malay archipelago who married local women, and settled in the region – across different eras and ecologies. We provide a critical digest of the contribution of scholarship on the Peranakans to Creole studies, World Englishes, and language endangerment – including a consideration of the Founder Principle in the ecology paradigm, as underscored by Mufwene, in establishing the Peranakans’ role as early adopters in the spread and evolution of English in the region. We examine sociological and communicative factors in their language practices in local, transnational, and digital ecologies, highlighting issues of postvernacular practice, authenticity indexing, and identity branding.
Detecting loan words computationally
Authors: Zhang Liqin , Fabri Ray , Nerbonne John , Nerbonne John 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
A loanword is a word that is borrowed from one language and adopted into another; examples are the English words toboggan, skunk, and hickory, all of which were borrowed from Algonquian languages. Among languages that are not (closely) related, loan words are recognizable because they are semantically related and are more similar in pronunciation than one would expect by coincidence. This chapter applies techniques for measuring pronunciation similarity, focusing on edit-distance measures and a sound-class based method. The novel issue in loan-word detection is the circumstance that loan words are normally modified to fit the phonology of the borrowing language, meaning that sensitivity in measuring pronunciation similarity may be deprecated.
What’s to bullying a bot?
Authors: Keijsers Merel , Bartneck Christoph , Eyssel Friederike 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIn human-chatbot interaction, users casually and regularly offend and abuse the chatbot they are interacting with. The current paper explores the relationship between chatbot humanlikeness on the one hand and sexual advances and verbal aggression by the user on the other hand. 283 conversations between the Cleverbot chatbot and its users were harvested and analysed. Our results showed higher counts of user verbal aggression and sexual comments towards Cleverbot when Cleverbot appeared more humanlike in its behaviour. Caution is warranted with the interpretation of the results however as no experimental manipulation was conducted and causality can thus not be inferred. Nonetheless, the findings are relevant for both the research on the abuse of conversational agents, and the development of efficient approaches to discourage or prevent verbal aggression by chatbot users.
Storytelling in bilingual Turkish-Swedish children
Authors: Bohnacker Ute , Lindgren Josefin , Öztekin Buket 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe empirical evidence for whether narrative macrostructure skills are shared between a bilingual child’s two languages is inconclusive, and it is not known how macrostructure (overall story structure) is influenced by general language proficiency and amount of exposure. The present study investigates these issues in 100 Turkish-Swedish bilingual 4-to-7-year-old children growing up in Sweden. Oral narratives were elicited in both Turkish and Swedish with two picture-based tasks from the Multilingual Assessment Instrument for Narratives (MAIN) in the telling mode. We investigated to what extent the language of elicitation influences bilingual children’s macrostructure (story structure, episodic complexity), and explored effects of age, narrative task, narrative length, expressive vocabulary and language exposure, both separately and combined, on macrostructure in the respective language. Story structure and episodic complexity were found to increase similarly with age in both Turkish and Swedish from 4 to 7 years. Scores did not differ between the two MAIN storytelling tasks. Expressive vocabulary and narrative length influenced story structure scores positively and similarly in both languages. Daily language exposure and length of exposure to Swedish did not show any significant effect. The results can be interpreted in support of a carry-over of narrative macrostructural skills between the two languages.
Soliton solutions, travelling wave solutions and conserved quantities for a three-dimensional soliton equation in plasma physics
Authors: Masood Khalique Chaudry , Davies Adeyemo Oke 
Published: September 2021

AbstractMany physical systems can be successfully modelled using equations that admit the soliton solutions. In addition, equations with soliton solutions have a significant mathematical structure. In this paper, we study and analyze a three-dimensional soliton equation, which has applications in plasma physics and other nonlinear sciences such as fluid mechanics, atomic physics, biophysics, nonlinear optics, classical and quantum fields theories. Indeed, solitons and solitary waves have been observed in numerous situations and often dominate long-time behaviour. We perform symmetry reductions of the equation via the use of Lie group theory and then obtain analytic solutions through this technique for the very first time. Direct integration of the resulting ordinary differential equation is done which gives new analytic travelling wave solutions that consist of rational function, elliptic functions, elementary trigonometric and hyperbolic functions solutions of the equation. Besides, various solitonic solutions are secured with the use of a polynomial complete discriminant system and elementary integral technique. These solutions comprise dark soliton, doubly-periodic soliton, trigonometric soliton, explosive/blowup and singular solitons. We further exhibit the dynamics of the solutions with pictorial representations and discuss them. In conclusion, we contemplate conserved quantities for the equation under study via the standard multiplier approach in conjunction with the homotopy integral formula. We state here categorically and emphatically that all results found in this study as far as we know have not been earlier obtained and so are new.