bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The prevalence, associated factors, clinical impact, and state of diagnosis of delirium in palliative care patients
Authors: Klankluang Watanachai , Tongsai Sasima , Sriphirom Chairat , Siriussawakul Arunotai , Chanthong Pratamaporn , Tayjasanant Supakarn 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to establish the prevalence, associated factors, and clinical impact of delirium in newly referred palliative care patients and the percentage of delirium diagnoses missed by primary medical teams.

Methods
Newly referred palliative care patients were evaluated and were reviewed for possible associated factors of delirium. Univariable and multivariable analysis were used to identify associated factors. Median overall survival and survival curves were analyzed. The percentage of missed diagnosis in IPD patients was identified.

Results
We included 350 palliative care patients. Nearly all patients had cancer diagnosis (96.6%). The overall prevalence of delirium was 44.0%. The independent associated factors of delirium were age ≥ 63 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 7.0; 95% CI, 2.2–22.9), palliative performance scale ≤ 20% (aOR, 54.5; 95% CI, 13.1–228.0), brain metastasis (aOR, 15.6; 95% CI, 3.7–66.7), urinary tract infection (aOR, 18.8; 95% CI, 4.7–75.5), sepsis (aOR, 59.0; 95% CI, 4.4–797.8), hyponatremia (aOR, 8.8; 95% CI, 2.6–29.8), and hypercalcemia (not applicable). Interestingly, opioids and benzodiazepines were not associated with delirium. Delirious patients had significantly shorter survival (median survival 11 days). Delirium diagnoses were missed for 76.1%.

Conclusion
Nearly half of the palliative care patients had delirium, which was associated with noticeably short survivals. We identified the independent factors associated with the delirium. Despite having a remarkably high prevalence rate and being a well-known poor prognostic factor, there was still a very high rate of missed delirium diagnoses. Effective, routine, delirium screening of palliative care patients needs to be emphasized.
Operator dependency of arterial input function in dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI
Authors: Kleppestø Magne , Bjørnerud Atle , Groote Inge Rasmus , Kim Minjae , Vardal Jonas , Larsson Christopher 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Objective
To investigate the effect of inter-operator variability in arterial input function (AIF) definition on kinetic parameter estimates (KPEs) from dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI in patients with high-grade gliomas.

Methods
The study included 118 DCE series from 23 patients. AIFs were measured by three domain experts (DEs), and a population AIF (pop-AIF) was constructed from the measured AIFs. The DE-AIFs, pop-AIF and AUC-normalized DE-AIFs were used for pharmacokinetic analysis with the extended Tofts model. AIF-dependence of KPEs was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis, and the impact on relative longitudinal change in Ktrans was assessed by Fleiss’ kappa (κ).

Results
There was a moderate to substantial agreement (ICC 0.51–0.76) between KPEs when using DE-AIFs, while AUC-normalized AIFs yielded ICC 0.77–0.95 for Ktrans, kep and ve and ICC 0.70 for vp. Inclusion of the pop-AIF did not reduce agreement. Agreement in relative longitudinal change in Ktrans was moderate (κ = 0.591) using DE-AIFs, while AUC-normalized AIFs gave substantial (κ = 0.809) agreement.

Discussion
AUC-normalized AIFs can reduce the variation in kinetic parameter results originating from operator input. The pop-AIF presented in this work may be applied in absence of a satisfactory measurement.
Sarcocystis neurona Transmission from Opossums to Marine Mammals in the Pacific Northwest
Authors: O’Byrne Alice M. , Lambourn Dyanna M. , Rejmanek Daniel , Haman Katherine , O’Byrne Michael , VanWormer Elizabeth , Shapiro Karen 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIncreasing reports of marine mammal deaths have been attributed to the parasite Sarcocystis neurona. Infected opossums, the only known definitive hosts, shed S. neurona sporocysts in their feces. Sporocysts can contaminate the marine environment via overland runoff, and subsequent ingestion by marine mammals can lead to fatal encephalitis. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of S. neurona in opossums from coastal areas of Washington State (USA) and to compare genetic markers between S. neurona in opossums and marine mammals. Thirty-two road-kill opossums and tissue samples from 30 stranded marine mammals meeting inclusion criteria were included in analyses. Three opossums (9.4%) and twelve marine mammals (40%) were confirmed positive for S. neurona via DNA amplification at the ITS1 locus. Genetic identity at microsatellites (sn3, sn7, sn9) and the snSAG3 gene of S. neurona was demonstrated among one harbor porpoise and two opossums. Watershed mapping further demonstrated plausible sporocyst transport pathways from one of these opossums to the location where an infected harbor porpoise carcass was recovered. Our results provide the first reported link between S. neurona genotypes on land and sea in the Pacific Northwest, and further demonstrate how terrestrial pathogen pollution can impact the health of marine wildlife.
Applying neural networks to predict HPC-I/O bandwidth over seismic data on lustre file system for ExSeisDat
Authors: Tipu Abdul Jabbar Saeed , Conbhuí Padraig Ó , Howley Enda 
Published: July 2021

AbstractHPC or super-computing clusters are designed for executing computationally intensive operations that typically involve large scale I/O operations. This most commonly involves using a standard MPI library implemented in C/C++. The MPI-I/O performance in HPC clusters tends to vary significantly over a range of configuration parameters that are generally not taken into account by the algorithm. It is commonly left to individual practitioners to optimise I/O on a case by case basis at code level. This can often lead to a range of unforeseen outcomes. The ExSeisDat utility is built on top of the native MPI-I/O library comprising of Parallel I/O and Workflow Libraries to process seismic data encapsulated in SEG-Y file format. The SEG-Y File data structure is complex in nature, due to the alternative arrangement of trace header and trace data. Its size scales to petabytes and the chances of I/O performance degradation are further increased by ExSeisDat. This research paper presents a novel study of the changing I/O performance in terms of bandwidth, with the use of parallel plots against various MPI-I/O, Lustre (Parallel) File System and SEG-Y File parameters. Another novel aspect of this research is the predictive modelling of MPI-I/O behaviour over SEG-Y File benchmarks using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). The accuracy ranges from 62.5% to 96.5% over the set of trained ANN models. The computed Mean Square Error (MSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) values further support the generalisation of the prediction models. This paper demonstrates that by using our ANNs prediction technique, the configurations can be tuned beforehand to avoid poor I/O performance.
Bioavailability and health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in popcorn kernel from sandy loam Ferric Luvisol amended with municipal solid waste compost
Authors: Dada Oyeyemi A. , Kutu Funso R. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractApplication of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) to marginal soil enhances crop growth but could also serve as source of pollutants into agroecosystem. There is scanty report on bioavailability of potentially toxic element (PTE) and the health risk of consuming popcorn kernel harvested from field fertilized with MSWC. Field trial was carried out in 2017–2019 to evaluate bioavailability of PTEs in kernel of popcorn harvested from field fertilized with MSWC. The trial was conducted at the experimental field of North-West University, Mafikeng campus South Africa. The treatments comprised three rates of MSWC including 0 t/ha (unamended, control), 4 t/ha and 8 t/ha arranged in randomized complete block design and replicated four times. One seed of popcorn was sown at 20 × 70 cm spacing per hole of 3 cm depth in a 6 × 4.2 m plot size. Growth and yield data were collected at maturity. Ears were harvested at maturity and the kernels were dried to 12% moisture content. Air-dried kernels (50 g) samples were collected and analyzed for essential mineral nutrient and some heavy metal(loid)s using ICP-MS. Measured concentrations of these heavy metal(loid)s were then used to calculate the health risk for adults and children. The results showed that uptake concentration was in the order K+ > HPO42− > Mg+2 > Ca2+ > Fe2+ > Cr6+ > Zn2+ > Mn2+  > Cu2+(mg/kg). Uptake concentration of metalloids: Al and Pd was significantly higher in the unamended. Bioavailability of PTE was highest in unamended plots. The average daily intake of the PTEs was within the recommended permissible level. The risk index value for oral pathway was < 1 for both adult and children population. Amending Ferric Luvisol with 80 t/ha MSWC enhanced popcorn growth and, concentration of accumulated PTEs in kernels at this rate, cannot pose health risk to both adult and children population.
Ethical dilemmas are really important to potential adopters of autonomous vehicles
Authors: Gill Tripat 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe ethical dilemma (ED) of whether autonomous vehicles (AVs) should protect the passengers or pedestrians when harm is unavoidable has been widely researched and debated. Several behavioral scientists have sought public opinion on this issue, based on the premise that EDs are critical to resolve for AV adoption. However, many scholars and industry participants have downplayed the importance of these edge cases. Policy makers also advocate a focus on higher level ethical principles rather than on a specific solution to EDs. But conspicuously absent from this debate is the view of the consumers or potential adopters, who will be instrumental to the success of AVs. The current research investigated this issue both from a theoretical standpoint and through empirical research. The literature on innovation adoption and risk perception suggests that EDs will be heavily weighted by potential adopters of AVs. Two studies conducted with a broad sample of consumers verified this assertion. The results from these studies showed that people associated EDs with the highest risk and considered EDs as the most important issue to address as compared to the other technical, legal and ethical issues facing AVs. As such, EDs need to be addressed to ensure robustness in the design of AVs and to assure consumers of the safety of this promising technology. Some preliminary evidence is provided about interventions to resolve the social dilemma in EDs and about the ethical preferences of prospective early adopters of AVs.
Large Deviations for Kac-Like Walks
Authors: Basile Giada , Benedetto Dario , Bertini Lorenzo , Orrieri Carlo 
Published: July 2021

AbstractWe introduce a Kac’s type walk whose rate of binary collisions preserves the total momentum but not the kinetic energy. In the limit of large number of particles we describe the dynamics in terms of empirical measure and flow, proving the corresponding large deviation principle. The associated rate function has an explicit expression. As a byproduct of this analysis, we provide a gradient flow formulation of the Boltzmann-Kac equation.
Association between [68Ga]NODAGA-RGDyK uptake and dynamics of angiogenesis in a human cell-based 3D model
Authors: Grönman Maria , Moisio Olli , Li Xiang-Guo , Toimela Tarja , Huttala Outi , Heinonen Tuula , Knuuti Juhani , Roivainen Anne , Saraste Antti 
Published: July 2021

AbstractRadiolabeled RGD peptides targeting expression of αvβ3 integrin have been applied to in vivo imaging of angiogenesis. However, there is a need for more information on the quantitative relationships between RGD peptide uptake and the dynamics of angiogenesis. In this study, we sought to measure the binding of [68Ga]NODAGA-RGDyK to αvβ3 integrin in a human cell-based three-dimensional (3D) in vitro model of angiogenesis, and to compare the level of binding with the amount of angiogenesis. Experiments were conducted using a human cell-based 3D model of angiogenesis consisting of co-culture of human adipose stem cells (hASCs) and of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Angiogenesis was induced with four concentrations (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) of growth factor cocktail resulting in a gradual increase in the density of the tubule network. Cultures were incubated with [68Ga]NODAGA-RGDyK for 90 min at 37 °C, and binding of radioactivity was measured by gamma counting and digital autoradiography. The results revealed that tracer binding increased gradually with neovasculature density. In comparison with vessels induced with a growth factor concentration of 25%, the uptake of [68Ga]NODAGA-RGDyK was higher at concentrations of 75% and 100%, and correlated with the amount of neovasculature, as determined by visual evaluation of histological staining. Uptake of [68Ga]NODAGA-RGDyK closely reflected the amount of angiogenesis in an in vitro 3D model of angiogenesis. These results support further evaluation of RGD-based approaches for targeted imaging of angiogenesis.
The SH3PXD2A-HTRA1 fusion transcript is extremely rare in Norwegian sporadic vestibular schwannoma patients
Authors: Taule-Sivertsen Peter , Bruland Ove , Håvik Aril Løge , Bratland Eirik , Lund-Johansen Morten , Knappskog Per Morten 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Introduction
Vestibular schwannoma (VS) is a benign intracranial tumor in which the underlying genetics is largely uncertain, apart from mutations in the tumor suppressor gene NF2. Alternative tumorigenic mechanisms have been proposed, including a recurrent in-frame fusion transcript of the HTRA1 and SH3PXD2A genes. The gene product of the SH3PXD2A-HTRA1 fusion has been shown to promote proliferation, invasion and resistance to cell death in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. The aim of this study was to replicate the findings and to investigate the frequency of this fusion gene in another cohort of vestibular schwannoma patients.

Methods
The SH3PXD2A-HTRA1 transcript was synthesized in vitro using PCR and used as a positive control to assess the sensitivity of a real-time PCR assay. This real-time PCR assay was used to search for the presence of the fusion transcript in 121 Norwegian sporadic VS patients.

Results
The real-time PCR assay showed a high sensitivity and was able to detect as low as ~ 5 copies of the fusion transcript. Out of the 121 investigated tumors, only 1 harbored the SH3PXD2A-HTRA1 fusion.

Conclusion
Even though the SH3PXD2A-HTRA1 fusion has been shown to be a driver of tumorigenesis, our results suggest that it is a rare event in our VS patients. Further investigation is warranted in order to elucidate whether our results represent an extreme, and if the fusion is present also in other neoplasms.
Direct oral anticoagulant-related medication incidents and pharmacists’ interventions in hospital in-patients: evaluation using reason’s accident causation theory
Authors: Haque Hazera , Alrowily Abdulrhman , Jalal Zahraa , Tailor Bijal , Efue Vicky , Sarwar Asif , Paudyal Vibhu 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundDirect oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have revolutionised anticoagulant pharmacotherapy. However, DOAC-related medication incidents are known to be common.ObjectiveTo assess medication incidents associated with DOACs using an error theory and to analyse pharmacists’ contributions in minimising medication incidents in hospital in-patients.SettingA large University academic hospital in the West Midlands of England.MethodsMedication incident data from the incident reporting system (48-months period) and pharmacists’ interventions data from the prescribing system (26-month period) relating to hospital in-patients were extracted. Reason’s Accident Causation Model was used to identify potential causality of the incidents. Pharmacists’ intervention data were thematically analysed.Main outcome measure(a) Frequency, type and potential causality of DOAC-related incidents; (b) nature of pharmacists’ interventions.ResultsA total of 812 reports were included in the study (124 medication incidents and 688 intervention reports). Missing drug/omission was the most common incident type (26.6%, n = 33) followed by wrong drug (16.1%, n = 20) and wrong dose/strength (11.3%, n = 14). A high majority (89.5%, n = 111) of medication incidents were caused by active failures. Patient discharge without anticoagulation supply and failure to restart DOACs post procedure/scan were commonly recurring themes. Pharmacists’ interventions most frequently related to changes in pharmacological strategy, including drug or dose changes (38.1%, n = 262). Impaired renal function was the most common reason for dose adjustments.ConclusionPrescribers’ active failure rather than system errors (i.e. latent failures) contributed to the majority of DOAC-related incidents. Reinforcement of guideline adherence, prescriber education, harnessing pharmacists’ roles and mandating renal function information in prescriptions are likely to improve patient safety.
Shot-noise queueing models
Authors: Boxma Onno , Mandjes Michel 
Published: July 2021

AbstractWe provide a survey of so-called shot-noise queues: queueing models with the special feature that the server speed is proportional to the amount of work it faces. Several results are derived for the workload in anM/G/1 shot-noise queue and some of its variants. Furthermore, we give some attention to queues with general workload-dependent service speed. We also discuss linear stochastic fluid networks, and queues in which the input process is a shot-noise process.
Rigid Versus Variable Energy Sources in Water-Pressurized Systems: An Economic and Environmental Analysis
Authors: Gómez Sellés Elena , Briones-Hidrovo Andrei , del Teso March Roberto , Uche Marcuello Francisco Javier , Cabrera Marcet Enrique 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe layouts of most urban water systems are known. A head tank with an appropriate elevation is used to supply water through the network at a pressure equal (or higher) to that set by the relevant standards. Furthermore, equalization, fire and emergency storage are important benefits of tank use, as is the possibility of avoiding peak rate electricity fares. However, at the end of the last century, some tanks were reported to have a negative impact the quality of water, and recommendations were made to limit their volume and revise their geometry. Recently, alternative options have been considered. Equalization can be achieved with pumps with variable-frequency drivers, emergency situations can be avoided with electric oil generators and solar plants can be used to offset other generation types and reduce energy costs. Therefore, this article analyses the performance of tanks as an energy source, and tank and pump supply methods are directly compared; overall, direct supply through pumps is cheaper, more energy efficient and more environmentally convenient. Therefore, in the context of climate change, it seems reasonable to avoid water tanks as energy sources.
Impact van de 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT-scan op het behandeladvies voor patiënten met prostaatkanker en een biochemisch recidief na curatieve therapie
Authors: Meijer Dennie , Ettema Rosemarijn H. , van Leeuwen Pim J. , Oosterholt Pepijn M. J. , Bodar Yves J. L. , van der Poel Henk G. , Hendrikse N. Harry , Donswijk Maarten L. , Wondergem Maurits , Vellekoop Annelies E. , van Moorselaar R. Jeroen A. , Nieuwenhuijzen Jakko A. , Oprea-Lager Daniela E. , Vis André N. 
Published: July 2021

SamenvattingHet doel van deze studie was te onderzoeken of de bevindingen op een 18F‑DCFPyL PET/CT-scan leiden tot een verandering van het behandeladvies voor patiënten met een biochemisch recidief (BCR) prostaatkanker. 253 patiënten met BCR-prostaatkanker bij wie een 18F‑DCFPyL PET/CT-scan werd gemaakt ter herstadiëring, werden geïncludeerd. Twee urologen formuleerden een voorgestelde behandeling voor elke patiënt voor- en nadat zij kennis hadden genomen van de uitslagen van de 18F‑DCFPyL PET/CT-scan. Bij 103/253 patiënten (40,7%) werd een verandering van het behandeladvies beschreven. Een positieve 18F‑DCFPyL PET/CT-scan (p < 0,001) en een positieve pathologische lymfeklierstatus (pN1; p = 0,024) waren significante voorspellers van een voorgenomen beleidswijziging, terwijl een positieve chirurgische marge (p = 0,022) negatief geassocieerd was met een voorgenomen beleidswijziging. De conclusie luidt dat bevindingen op een 18F‑DCFPyL PET/CT-scan een significante impact hebben op het voorgestelde beleid bij patiënten met BCR-prostaatkanker.
Real Lines on Random Cubic Surfaces
Authors: Ait El Manssour Rida , Belotti Mara , Meroni Chiara 
Published: July 2021

AbstractWe give an explicit formula for the expectation of the number of real lines on a random invariant cubic surface, i.e., a surface $$Z\subset {\mathbb {R}}{\mathrm {P}}^3$$

Z
⊂
R

P

3

defined by a random gaussian polynomial whose probability distribution is invariant under the action of the orthogonal group O(4) by change of variables. Such invariant distributions are completely described by one parameter $$\lambda \in [0,1]$$

λ
∈
[
0
,
1
]

and as a function of this parameter the expected number of real lines equals: $$\begin{aligned} E_\lambda =\frac{9(8\lambda ^2+(1-\lambda )^2)}{2\lambda ^2+(1-\lambda )^2}\left( \frac{2\lambda ^2}{8\lambda ^2+(1-\lambda )^2}-\frac{1}{3}+\frac{2}{3}\sqrt{\frac{8\lambda ^2+(1-\lambda )^2}{20\lambda ^2+(1-\lambda )^2}}\right) . \end{aligned}$$

E
λ

=

9
(
8

λ
2

+

(
1
-
λ
)

2

)

2

λ
2

+

(
1
-
λ
)

2

2

λ
2

8

λ
2

+

(
1
-
λ
)

2

-

1
3

+

2
3

8

λ
2

+

(
1
-
λ
)

2

20

λ
2

+

(
1
-
λ
)

2

.

This result generalizes previous results by Basu et al. (Math Ann 374(3–4):1773–1810, 2019) for the case of a Kostlan polynomial, which corresponds to $$\lambda =\frac{1}{3}$$

λ
=

1
3

and for which $$E_{\frac{1}{3}}=6\sqrt{2}-3.$$

E

1
3

=
6

2

-
3
.

Moreover, we show that the expectation of the number of real lines is maximized by random purely harmonic cubic polynomials, which corresponds to the case $$\lambda =1$$

λ
=
1

and for which $$E_1=24\sqrt{\frac{2}{5}}-3$$

E
1

=
24

2
5

-
3

.