bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Mouthpiece Noninvasive Ventilation on Speech in Men With Muscular Dystrophy: A Pilot Study
Authors: Britton Deanna , Pullen Elizabeth , Hoit Jeannette D. , Benditt Joshua O. 
Published: March 2021

Purpose
The use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is on the rise as an alternative to tracheostomy for individuals with neuromuscular disorders with life-prolonging and quality-of-life benefits. This pilot study was designed to determine if mouthpiece NIV (M-NIV) alters speech in individuals with muscular dystrophy (MD).

Method

Eight men (23–44 years), seven with Duchenne MD and one with Becker MD, who used daytime M-NIV, were asked to sustain phonation, count, and read under three conditions: (a)
Uncued
(no instructions), (b)
With M-NIV
(cued to use M-NIV with all speaking breaths), and (c)
Without M-NIV
(as tolerated). Breath group and inspiratory durations, syllables/breath group, and relative sound pressure level were determined from audio and video recordings.

Results
Uncued condition: Participants used the ventilator for all inspirations that preceded sustained phonation and counting. During reading, four participants used M-NIV for all inspirations, one never used it, and three used it for some (19%–41%) inspirations.
With- versus Without-M-NIV conditions: Breath group duration was significantly longer across all tasks, syllables per breath group were significantly greater during reading, and inspiratory pause duration during reading was significantly longer with M-NIV than without. Sound pressure level was significantly higher during the first second of sustained phonation with M-NIV (though not for counting and reading). Two participants were unable to complete the reading task audibly without using their M-NIV.

Conclusions
Speech may be better with M-NIV than without because it is possible to produce longer breath groups and some people with severe respiratory muscle weakness may not be able to speak at all without ventilator-supplied air. Nevertheless, the longer inspiratory pauses that accompany M-NIV may interrupt the flow of speech. Future research is needed to determine the most effective way to use M-NIV for speaking and whether training participants in its use can bring even greater speech benefits.
Aggregates of clusters in the Gaia data
Authors: Piecka M. , Paunzen E. 
Published: March 2021

Context. The precision of the parallax measurements by Gaia is unprecedented. As of Gaia Data Release 2, the number of known nearby open clusters has increased. Some of the clusters appear to be relatively close to each other and form aggregates, which makes them interesting objects to study.
Aims. We study the aggregates of clusters which share several of the assigned member stars in relatively narrow volumes of the phase space.
Methods. Using the most recent list of open clusters, we compare the cited central parallaxes with the histograms of parallax distributions of cluster aggregates. The aggregates were chosen based on the member stars which are shared by multiple clusters.
Results. Many of the clusters in the aggregates have been assigned parallaxes which coincide with the histograms. However, clusters that share a large number of members in a small volume of the phase space display parallax distributions which do not coincide with the values from the literature. This is the result of ignoring a possibility of assigning multiple probabilities to a single star. We propose that this small number of clusters should be analysed anew.
Alkyl Halides as Substrates for Photocatalytic Minisci-Type C–H Alkylation of Hetarenes
Authors: Predygier Jędrzej , Szczepanik Joanna , Giedyk Maciej 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAlkyl halides are readily available starting materials for various synthetic transformations, including Minisci-type C–H functionalizations of hetarenes. The existing methods, however, often require harsh reaction conditions, such as the use of acids, sacrificial electron donors, or radical precursors in excess amounts. Here, we outline recent developments in this field and we highlight our group̓s efforts to achieve fully catalytic photoredox Minisci-type alkylations supported by noncovalent interactions under mild aqueous conditions.
Outbreak of Enterovirus Infection with Neurological Presentations in a Pediatric Population in Northern Spain: A Clinical Observational Study
Authors: Hedrera-Fernandez Antonio , Cancho-Candela Ramon , Arribas-Arceredillo Marta , Garrido-Barbero Maria , Conejo-Moreno David , Sariego-Jamardo Andrea , Perez-Poyato Maria Socorro , Rodriguez-Fernandez Cristina , del Villar-Guerra Pablo , Bermejo-Arnedo Ignacio , Peña-Valenceja Alfonso , Maldonado-Ruiz Esther , Ortiz-Madinaveitia Saturnino , Camina-Gutierrez Ana Belen , Blanco-Lago Raquel , Malaga Ignacio 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjective The study aimed to describe the cases of neurological disease related to the outbreak of enterovirus (EV) in three regions in Northern Spain during 2016.Materials and Methods Multicenter retrospective observational study. Clinical, radiological, and microbiological data were analyzed from patients younger than 15 years with confirmed EV-associated neurological disease admitted to 10 hospitals of Asturias, Cantabria, and Castile and Leon between January 1 and December 31, 2016.Results Fifty-five patients were included. Median age was 24 months (interquartile range = 18.5 months). Fifteen patients were classified as aseptic meningitis (27.3%). In total, 37 cases presented brainstem encephalitis (67.3%), 25 of them due to EV-A71 with excellent prognosis (84.6% asymptomatic 2 months following the onset). Three cases of acute flaccid myelitis (5.5%) by EV-D68 were reported and presented persistent paresis 2 months following the onset. Microbiological diagnosis by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was performed in all cases, finding EV in cerebrospinal fluid in meningitis, but not in brainstem encephalitis and acute flaccid myelitis, where EV was found in respiratory or rectal samples. Step therapy was administrated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG; 32.7%), methylprednisolone (10%), and plasmapheresis (3.6%). Four patients received fluoxetine (7.3%). Twenty patients needed to be admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (36.4%).Conclusion Clinical, microbiological, and radiological diagnosis is essential in outbreaks of EV neurological disease, taking into account that it can be difficult to identify EV-A71 and EV-D68 in CSF, requiring throat or rectal samples. There is not specific treatment to these conditions and the efficacy and understanding of the mechanism of action of immune-modulatory treatment (IVIG, corticosteroids, and plasmapheresis) is limited.
Switching between perfect absorption and polarization conversion, based on hybrid metamaterial in the GHz and THz bands
Authors: Ha Duong Thi , Ngoc Dzung Dinh , Ngoc Nguyen Van , Son Tung Bui , Pham Thanh Son , Lee YoungPak , Chen Liang Yao , Xuan Khuyen Bui , Dinh Lam Vu 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
We demonstrate a multifunctional metamaterial (MM) structure which can behave like a perfect absorber (PA) or polarization converter (PC) by controlling the lumped varactor. In PC mode, the MM revealed cross-polarization conversion in a frequency range from 2.0 to 7.0 GHz with a polarization-conversion ratio of nearly 100%. While in the PA state, triple-band high absorption was achieved. In addition, we investigated numerically the PA and PC modes by scaling down the geometrical dimension and orientation of the proposed unit cells, for further development of innovative methods in the THz range. Our work is expected to contribute to the realization of future multifunctional MM-based devices working in the GHz or higher-frequency range.
Fabrication of TiO2-based broadband single-layer anti-reflection coating by collimated glancing angle deposition technique
Authors: De Rajnarayan , Haque S Maidul , Sikdar M K , Sahoo P K , Rao K Divakar 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Single-sided TiO2 thin films were prepared using a modified glancing angle deposition (GLAD) technique. An additional flux collimation plate was introduced into the GLAD arrangement to enhance the degree of collimation of depositing vapour flux. Enhancement in the ballistic growth of film on the substrate was observed with increasing distance from the vapour source. The substrate position near to the vapour source (i.e. bottom region) showed a high refractive index (RI, ∼1.336 @ 550 nm wavelength) and lower average film transmittance (∼94.5% in 400–900 nm wavelength range) compared to the others. In contrast, the TiO2 coating deposited at a distant position from the source (i.e. top region) showed a remarkably low RI (∼1.190 @ 550 nm wavelength) and excellent anti-reflection over a broad spectral region with a maximum average transmittance (∼95.3% in 400–900 nm wavelength) compared to the other substrate positions. The reduction in film RI was correlated qualitatively with the morphological alterations in the coating for different substrate positions. With a further increase in distance from the vapour source, an ultimate reduction in the RI of TiO2 to ∼1.101 was observed, which was ∼50% lower than the bulk TiO2 value (∼2.221 @ 550 nm wavelength). The present study reports the lowest RI of TiO2 together with fabrication of a TiO2-based broadband single-layer anti-reflection coating.
A calculus exercise for physics class: integrating

xne−ax

with two triangles
Authors: Reed B Cameron 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Integrals of functions of the form

f
(
x
)
=

x

n

e

−
a
x

over the domain

(
0
,
∞
)

occur in various areas of physics. This paper shows how students can evaluate such integrals to surprisingly good accuracy using only basic calculus.
Matched Versus Unmatched Analysis of Matched Case-Control Studies
Authors: Wan Fei , Colditz Graham A , Sutcliffe Siobhan 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Although the need for addressing matching in the analysis of matched case-control studies is well established, debate remains as to the most appropriate analytical method when matching on at least 1 continuous factor. We compared the bias and efficiency of unadjusted and adjusted conditional logistic regression (CLR) and unconditional logistic regression (ULR) in the setting of both exact and nonexact matching. To demonstrate that case-control matching distorts the association between the matching variables and the outcome in the matched sample relative to the target population, we derived the logit model for the matched case-control sample under exact matching. We conducted simulations to validate our theoretical conclusions and to explore different ways of adjusting for the matching variables in CLR and ULR to reduce biases. When matching is exact, CLR is unbiased in all settings. When matching is not exact, unadjusted CLR tends to be biased, and this bias increases with increasing matching caliper size. Spline smoothing of the matching variables in CLR can alleviate biases. Regardless of exact or nonexact matching, adjusted ULR is generally biased unless the functional form of the matched factors is modeled correctly. The validity of adjusted ULR is vulnerable to model specification error. CLR should remain the primary analytical approach.
Alternative strategies in cardiac preclinical research and new clinical trial formats
Authors: Kreutzer Fabian Philipp , Meinecke Anna , Schmidt Kevin , Fiedler Jan , Thum Thomas 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
An efficient and safe drug development process is crucial for the establishment of new drugs on the market aiming to increase quality of life and life-span of our patients. Despite technological advances in the past decade, successful launches of drug candidates per year remain low. We here give an overview about some of these advances and suggest improvements for implementation to boost preclinical and clinical drug development with a focus on the cardiovascular field. We highlight advantages and disadvantages of animal experimentation and thoroughly review alternatives in the field of three-dimensional cell culture as well as preclinical use of spheroids and organoids. Microfluidic devices and their potential as organ-on-a-chip systems, as well as the use of living animal and human cardiac tissues are additionally introduced. In the second part, we examine recent gold standard randomized clinical trials and present possible modifications to increase lead candidate throughput: adaptive designs, master protocols, and drug repurposing. In silico and N-of-1 trials have the potential to redefine clinical drug candidate evaluation. Finally, we briefly discuss clinical trial designs during pandemic times.
Overexpression of Vitamin D Receptor in Intestinal Epithelia Protects Against Colitis via Upregulating Tight Junction Protein Claudin 15
Authors: Chatterjee Ishita , Zhang Yongguo , Zhang Jilei , Lu Rong , Xia Yinglin , Sun Jun 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackground and AimsDysfunction of the vitamin D receptor [VDR] contributes to the aetiology of IBD by regulating autophagy, immune response, and mucosal permeability. VDR directly controls the paracellular tight junction protein Claudin-2. Claudin-2 and Claudin-15 are unique in maintaining paracellular permeability. Interestingly, claudin-15 mRNA was downregulated in patients with ulcerative colitis. However, the exact mechanism of Claudin-15 regulation in colitis is still unknown. Here, we investigated the protective role of VDR against intestinal inflammation via upregulating Claudin-15.MethodsWe analysed the correlation of Claudin-15 with the reduction of VDR in human colitis. We generated intestinal epithelial overexpression of VDR [O-VDR] mice to study the gain of function of VDR in colitis. Intestinal epithelial VDR knockout [VDR∆IEC] mice were used for the loss of function study. Colonoids and SKCO15 cells were used as in vitro models.ResultsReduced Claudin-15 was significantly correlated with decreased VDR along the colonic epithelium of human IBD. O-VDR mice showed decreased susceptibility to chemically and bacterially induced colitis and marked increased Claudin-15 expression [both mRNA and protein] in the colon. Correspondingly, colonic Claudin-15 was reduced in VDR∆IEC mice, which were susceptible to colitis. Overexpression of intestinal epithelial VDR and vitamin D treatment resulted in a significantly increased Claudin-15. ChIP assays identified the direct binding of VDR to the claudin-15 promoter, suggesting that claudin-15 is a target gene of VDR.ConclusionWe demonstrated the mechanism of VDR upregulation of Claudin-15 to protect against colitis. This might enlighten the mechanism of barrier dysfunction in IBD and potential therapeutic strategies to inhibit inflammation.
Antiarrhythmic drugs in patients with early persistent atrial fibrillation and heart failure: results of the RACE 3 study
Authors: Al-Jazairi Meelad I H , Nguyen Bao-Oanh , De With Ruben R , Smit Marcelle D , Weijs Bob , Hobbelt Anne H , Alings Marco , Tijssen Jan G P , Geelhoed Bastiaan , Hillege Hans L , Tieleman Robert G , Van Veldhuisen Dirk J , Crijns Harry J G M , Van Gelder Isabelle C , Blaauw Yuri , Rienstra Michiel ,   for the RACE 3 Investigators
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Aims
Maintaining sinus rhythm in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is challenging. We explored the efficacy of class I and III antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) in patients with persistent AF and mild to moderate heart failure (HF).

Methods and results
In the RACE 3 trial, patients with early persistent symptomatic AF and short history of mild to moderate HF with preserved or reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were randomized to targeted or conventional therapy. Both groups received AF and HF guideline-driven treatment. Additionally, the targeted-group received mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and/or receptor blockers, and cardiac rehabilitation. Class I and III AADs could be instituted in case of symptomatic recurrent AF. Eventually, pulmonary vein isolation could be performed. Primary endpoint was sinus rhythm on 7-day Holter after 1-year. Included were 245 patients, age 65 ± 9 years, 193 (79%) men, AF history was 3 (2–6) months, HF history 2 (1–4) months, 72 (29.4%) had HF with reduced LVEF. After baseline electrical cardioversion (ECV), 190 (77.6%) had AF recurrences; 108 (56.8%) received class I/III AADs; 19 (17.6%) flecainide, 36 (33.3%) sotalol, 3 (2.8%) dronedarone, 50 (46.3%) amiodarone. At 1-year 73 of 108 (68.0%) patients were in sinus rhythm, 44 (40.7%) without new AF recurrences. Maintenance of sinus rhythm was significantly better with amiodarone [n = 29/50 (58%)] compared with flecainide [n = 6/19 (32%)] and sotalol/dronedarone [n = 9/39 (23%)], P = 0.0064. Adverse events occurred in 27 (25.0%) patients, were all minor and reversible.

Conclusion
In stable HF patients with early persistent AF, AAD treatment was effective in nearly half of patients, with no serious adverse effects reported.
Current perspectives on wearable rhythm recordings for clinical decision-making: the wEHRAbles 2 survey
Authors: Manninger Martin , Zweiker David , Svennberg Emma , Chatzikyriakou Sofia , Pavlovic Nikola , Zaman Junaid A.B. , Kircanski Bratislav , Lenarczyk Radoslaw , Vanduynhoven Philippe , Kosiuk Jedrzej , Potpara Tatjana , Duncker David 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Novel wearable devices for heart rhythm analysis using either photoplethysmography (PPG) or electrocardiogram (ECG) are in daily clinical practice. This survey aimed to assess impact of these technologies on physicians’ clinical decision-making and to define, how data from these devices should be presented and integrated into clinical practice. The online survey included 22 questions, focusing on the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) based on wearable rhythm device recordings, suitable indications for wearable rhythm devices, data presentation and processing, reimbursement, and future perspectives. A total of 539 respondents {median age 38 [interquartile range (IQR) 34–46] years, 29% female} from 51 countries world-wide completed the survey. Whilst most respondents would diagnose AF (83%), fewer would initiate oral anticoagulation therapy based on a single-lead ECG tracing. Significantly fewer still (27%) would make the diagnosis based on PPG-based tracing. Wearable ECG technology is acceptable for the majority of respondents for screening, diagnostics, monitoring, and follow-up of arrhythmia patients, while respondents were more reluctant to use PPG technology for these indications. Most respondents (74%) would advocate systematic screening for AF using wearable rhythm devices, starting at patients’ median age of 60 (IQR 50–65) years. Thirty-six percent of respondents stated that there is no reimbursement for diagnostics involving wearable rhythm devices in their countries. Most respondents (56.4%) believe that costs of wearable rhythm devices should be shared between patients and insurances. Wearable single- or multiple-lead ECG technology is accepted for multiple indications in current clinical practice and triggers AF diagnosis and treatment. The unmet needs that call for action are reimbursement plans and integration of wearable rhythm device data into patient’s files and hospital information systems.
Generic Dynamical Properties of Connections on Vector Bundles
Authors: Cekić Mihajlo , Lefeuvre Thibault 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Given a smooth Hermitian vector bundle $\mathcal{E}$ over a closed Riemannian manifold $(M,g)$, we study generic properties of unitary connections $\nabla ^{\mathcal{E}}$ on the vector bundle $\mathcal{E}$. First of all, we show that twisted conformal Killing tensors (CKTs) are generically trivial when $\dim (M) \geq 3$, answering an open question of Guillarmou–Paternain–Salo–Uhlmann [ 14]. In negative curvature, it is known that the existence of twisted CKTs is the only obstruction to solving exactly the twisted cohomological equations, which may appear in various geometric problems such as the study of transparent connections. The main result of this paper says that these equations can be generically solved. As a by-product, we also obtain that the induced connection $\nabla ^{\textrm{End}({\operatorname{{\mathcal{E}}}})}$ on the endomorphism bundle $\textrm{End}({\operatorname{{\mathcal{E}}}})$ has generically trivial CKTs as long as $(M,g)$ has no nontrivial CKTs on its trivial line bundle. Eventually, we show that, under the additional assumption that $(M,g)$ is Anosov (i.e., the geodesic flow is Anosov on the unit tangent bundle), the connections are generically opaque, namely that generically there are no non-trivial subbundles of $\mathcal{E}$ that are preserved by parallel transport along geodesics. The proofs rely on the introduction of a new microlocal property for (pseudo)differential operators called operators of uniform divergence type, and on perturbative arguments from spectral theory (especially on the theory of Pollicott–Ruelle resonances in the Anosov case).
Nasopharyngeal Carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae Among Young Children in Haiti Before Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Introduction
Authors: Francois Watkins Louise K , Milucky Jennifer L , McGee, Lesley , Siné St.-Surin Florence , Liu Pengbo , Tran Theresa , Chochua Sopio , Joseph Gerard , Shang Nong , Juin Stanley , Dely Patrick , Patel Roopal , Van Beneden Chris A 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Background
Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) reduce carriage in the nasopharynx, preventing disease. We conducted a pneumococcal carriage study to estimate the prevalence of pneumococcal colonization, identify risk factors for colonization, and describe antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among pneumococci colonizing young children in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, before introduction of 13-valent PCV (PCV13).

Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study of children aged 6–24 months at an immunization clinic in Port-au-Prince between September 2015 and January 2016. Consenting parents were interviewed about factors associated with pneumococcal carriage; nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from each child and cultured for pneumococcus after broth enrichment. Pneumococcal isolates were serotyped and underwent antimicrobial susceptibility testing. We compared frequency of demographic, clinical, and environmental factors among pneumococcus-colonized children (carriers) to those who were not colonized (noncarriers) using unadjusted bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression.

Results
Pneumococcus was isolated from 308 of the 685 (45.0%) children enrolled. Overall, 157 isolates (50.8%) were PCV13 vaccine-type serotypes; most common were 6A (13.3%), 19F (12.6%), 6B (9.7%), and 23F (6.1%). Vaccine-type isolates were significantly more likely to be nonsusceptible to ≥1 antimicrobial (63.1% vs 45.4%, P = .002). On bivariate analysis, carriers were significantly more likely than noncarriers to live in a household without electricity or running water, to share a bedroom with ≥3 people, to have a mother or father who did not complete secondary education, and to have respiratory symptoms in the 24 hours before enrollment (P &lt; .05 for all comparisons). On multivariable analysis, completion of the pentavalent vaccination series (targeting diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type b) remained significantly more common among noncarriers.

Conclusions
Nearly a quarter of healthy children surveyed in Haiti were colonized with vaccine-type pneumococcal serotypes. This baseline carriage study will enable estimation of vaccine impact following nationwide introduction of PCV13.