bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Newly Recognized Stuttering in Three Young Children Following the Hojedk Earthquake in Iran
Authors: Jafari Hamid , Mohamadi Mahan , Haghjoo Asghar , Heidari Mohammad 
Published: June 2019

AbstractNatural disasters, particularly earthquakes, in addition to physical complications, have always had psychological consequences for those affected by them. Stuttering is one of the psychological consequences of shocking events. After a 6.6 magnitude earthquake in Hojedk, Kerman, Iran, two 5-year-old children and a 4-year-old child with symptoms of discontinuous speech (including repeated sound, syllable, and words) were referred to the Kerman Welfare Organization’s rehabilitation center (Kerman, Iran). After history-taking, it became clear that the children had begun to stutter after the earthquake due to fear and stress. Considering the importance of negative emotional experiences in the onset of stuttering, it cannot really be said with certainty that the negative experience of the earthquake initiated the stuttering. Rather, the stuttering had not been present before the earthquake and appeared after the event. These cases indicate the importance of psychosocial support and speech therapy after disasters, especially for children that have higher psychological vulnerability than other age groups.
Combined Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy Techniques for A Rapid Assessment of the Effect and Cell Viability of Scenedesmus sp. DE2009 Under Metal Stress
Authors: Millach Laia , Villagrasa Eduard , Solé Antonio , Esteve Isabel 
Published: June 2019

AbstractPhototrophic microorganisms are the dominant populations in microbial mats, which play an important role in stabilizing sediments, such as happens in the Ebro Delta. These microorganisms are exposed to low metal concentrations over a long period of time. Distinct methods have been used to evaluate their toxic effect on the preservation of these ecosystems. Nevertheless, most of these techniques are difficult to apply in isolated phototrophs because (i) they usually form consortia with heterotrophic bacteria, (ii) are difficult to obtain in axenic cultures, and (iii) do not grow on solid media.In this study, and for the first time, a combination of fast, non-invasive, and in vivo Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) techniques were applied in a consortium of Scenedesmus sp. DE2009 to analyze its physiological state and viability under metal stress conditions. Microalga was more resistant to Pb followed by Cr and Cu. However, in multimetal combinations, the presence of Cu negatively affected microalga growth. Additionally, the inhibitory concentration (IC) values were also calculated by CLSM pigment analysis. The result determines a higher degree of toxicity for Cu and Cr in comparison to Pb. The high sensitivity of these CLSM-methods to detect low concentrations allows consideration of Scenedesmus sp. DE2009 as a good bioindicator of metal pollution in natural environments.
Absence of Age‐Related Trends in Stable Oxygen Isotope Ratios From Oak Tree Rings
Authors: Duffy Josie E. , McCarroll Danny , Loader Neil J. , Young Giles H. F. , Davies Darren , Miles Daniel , Bronk Ramsey Christopher 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe potential for age‐related trends in the stable oxygen isotope ratios of latewood alpha cellulose was investigated in samples of living oak trees and historic building timbers from the UK. When the series are examined individually, it is clear that the strongest trends in individual trees and timbers reflect concurrent trends in climate. Nonclimatic trends are very small and represent random noise that can be removed by averaging. If the same data are analyzed using the more conventional approach of aligning the series by ring number and fitting a regression line, so that the magnitude of the age trend is based on the slope of the mean and the statistical significance on the correlation coefficient, the results are very different. We demonstrate that this conventional approach regularly produces spurious age trends with grossly inflated probabilities, because of offsets in the mean values of series of different length. We conclude that there is no need to detrend stable oxygen isotope series from individual trees or timbers of oak from the UK and that to do so would remove important climatic information. Long isotope chronologies can safely be constructed by combining data from multiple individual trees, or by pooling material from trees prior to chemical treatment and isotopic measurement. Age‐related trends may occur in other species or in other regions, but where they have been identified using the conventional “slope of the mean” approach they should be reassessed using the “mean of the slope” approach.
Efficacy and safety of dosage-escalation of low-dosage esaxerenone added to a RAS inhibitor in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuria: a single-arm, open-label study
Authors: Itoh Hiroshi , Ito Sadayoshi , Rakugi Hiromi , Okuda Yasuyuki , Nishioka Satoshi 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe stimulation of mineralocorticoid receptors is linked to the development of hypertension and cardiovascular or renal damage in patients with diabetes, and the blockade of these receptors may be an effective treatment option. This open-label study with a 12-week treatment period assessed the antihypertensive (primary) and antialbuminuric (secondary) efficacy and safety of esaxerenone as an add-on therapy to a renin–angiotensin system inhibitor in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuria (urinary albumin-creatinine ratio 30 to <1000 mg/g•Cr). Esaxerenone was administered over 12 weeks at a starting dosage of 1.25 mg/day, which was gradually titrated to 2.5 mg/day and 5 mg/day at weeks 4, 6, or 8 according to the dosage-escalation criteria based on serum K+ levels, the estimated glomerular filtration rate, and the likelihood/occurrence of hypotension. Of the 51 patients enrolled, 44 (86.3%) reached an esaxerenone dosage of 2.5 or 5 mg/day. The changes from the baseline in sitting systolic and diastolic blood pressures were −13.7 mmHg (p < 0.05) and −6.2 mmHg (p < 0.05), respectively. Significant decreases in blood pressure occurred regardless of age, baseline systolic blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin level, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. The urinary albumin-creatinine ratio decreased by 32.4% from the baseline (p < 0.05). Two consecutive serum K+ measurements ≥ 5.5 mEq/L occurred in one patient but resolved after dosage reduction. Esaxerenone showed antihypertensive and antialbuminuric effects and a low risk of hyperkalemia with dosage titration from 1.25 mg in Japanese hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuria receiving a renin–angiotensin system inhibitor.
Validation of monoclonal anti-PKC isozyme antibodies for flow cytometry analyses in human T cell subsets and expression in cord blood T cells
Authors: Perveen Khalida , Quach Alex , McPhee Andrew , Prescott Susan L. , Barry Simon C. , Hii Charles S. , Ferrante Antonio 
Published: June 2019

AbstractT cells from neonates (cord blood) with a tendency to develop allergic diseases express low PKCζ levels. More extensive investigations into PKC isozyme levels in T cell subsets and changes during neonatal T cell maturation are hampered by limitations of Western blot analyses. We have undertaken to validating the specificity of commercially available antibodies marketed for flow cytometry to measure PKCα, βI, βII, δ, ε, η, θ, ζ, ι/λ and μ. Western blot analyses of human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) lysates demonstrated that some antibodies were unsuitable for flow cytometry assays. A panel of antibodies with the desirable specificity and reliability in the flow cytometry assay were identified using both PBMC and whole blood assays. The results showed that all PKC isozymes were expressed in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, monocytes and neutrophils. Murine lymphocytes showed similar patterns of expression. A major finding was that 35.2% and 38.5% of cord blood samples have low PKCζ (≤the 5th percentile of adult levels) in the CD4+ and CD8+ subsets, respectively, consistent with the incidence of allergy development in the population. Furthermore, these low PKCζ levels ‘normalised’ within 24 h after initiation of maturation of these cells in culture, providing a ‘window of opportunity’ for altering PKCζ levels.
Enhanced endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial stress in abdominal aortic aneurysm
Authors: Navas-Madroñal Miquel , Rodriguez Cristina , Kassan Modar , Fité Joan , Escudero José R. , Cañes Laia , Martínez-González José , Camacho Mercedes , Galán María 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a degenerative vascular disease with a complex aetiology that remains to be fully elucidated. Clinical management of AAA is limited to surgical repair, while an effective pharmacotherapy is still awaited. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and mitochondrial dysfunction have been involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), although their contribution to AAA development is uncertain. Therefore, we aimed to determine their implication in AAA and investigated the profile of oxysterols in plasma, specifically 7-ketocholesterol (7-KC), as an ER stress inducer.
In the present study, we determined aortic ER stress activation in a large cohort of AAA patients compared with healthy donors. Higher gene expression of activating transcription factor (ATF) 6 (ATF6), IRE-1, X-binding protein 1 (XBP-1), C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), CRELD2 and suppressor/enhancer of Lin-12-like (SEL1L) and greater protein levels of active ATF6, active XBP1 and of the pro-apoptotic protein CHOP were detected in human aneurysmatic samples. This was accompanied by an exacerbated apoptosis, higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and by a reduction in mitochondrial biogenesis in the vascular wall of AAA. The quantification of oxysterols, performed by liquid chromatography-(atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI))-mass spectrometry, showed that levels of 7-KC were significantly higher while those of 7α-hydroxycholesterol (HC), 24-HC and 27-HC were lower in AAA patients compared with healthy donors. Interestingly, the levels of 7-KC correlate with the expression of ER stress markers.
Our results evidence an induction of ER stress in the vascular wall of AAA patients associated with an increase in circulating 7-KC levels and a reduction in mitochondrial biogenesis suggesting their implication in the pathophysiology of this disease.
Behavioral Assessment of Hearing in 2- to 7-Year-Old Children: Evaluation of a Two-Interval, Observer-Based Procedure Using Conditioned Play-Based Responses
Authors: Bonino Angela Yarnell , Ramsey Michael E. , McTee Haley M. , Vance Eric A. 
Published: June 2019

Purpose

It is challenging to collect reliable behavioral data from toddlers and preschoolers. Consequently, we have significant gaps in our understanding of how auditory development unfolds during this time period. One method that appears to be promising is an observer-based procedure that uses conditioned, play-based responses (
Bonino & Leibold, 2017
). In order to evaluate the quality of data obtained with this method, this study presented a suprathreshold signal to determine the number of trials 2- to 7-year-old children could complete, as well as the associated hit rate and observer confidence.

Method
Participants were 23 children (2–7 years old). Children were taught to perform a play-based motor response when they detected the 1000-Hz warble tone signal (at 30 dB SPL). An observer evaluated children's behavior using a 2-interval, 2-alternative testing paradigm. Testing was terminated after 100 trials or earlier, if signs of habituation were observed.

Results

Data were successfully collected from 22 of the 23 children. Of the 22 children, all but 1 child completed 100 trials. Overall hit rate was high (0.88–1.0;
M
= 0.94) and improved with listener age. Hit rate was stable across the test session. Strong agreement was seen between the correctness of the response and the observer's confidence in the judgment.

Conclusion
Results of this study confirm that the 2-interval, observer-based procedure described in this article is a powerful tool for measuring detection and discrimination abilities in young children. Future research will (a) evaluate coder reliability and (b) examine stability of performance across a test session when the signal intensity is manipulated.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.8309273
Thermal X-ray emission identified from the millisecond pulsar PSR J1909–3744
Authors: Webb N. A. , Leahy D. , Guillot S. , Baillot d’Etivaux N. , Barret D. , Guillemot L. , Margueron J. , Miller M. C. 
Published: June 2019

Context. Pulsating thermal X-ray emission from millisecond pulsars can be used to obtain constraints on the neutron star equation of state, but to date only five such sources have been identified. Of these five millisecond pulsars, only two have well-constrained neutron star masses, which improve the determination of the radius via modelling of the X-ray waveform.
Aims. We aim to find other millisecond pulsars that already have well-constrained mass and distance measurements that show pulsed thermal X-ray emission in order to obtain tight constraints on the neutron star equation of state.
Methods. The millisecond pulsar PSR J1909–3744 has an accurately determined mass, M = 1.54 ± 0.03 M⊙ (1σ error) and distance, D = 1.07 ± 0.04 kpc. We analysed XMM-Newton data of this 2.95 ms pulsar to identify the nature of the X-ray emission.
Results. We show that the X-ray emission from PSR J1909–3744 appears to be dominated by thermal emission from the polar cap. Only a single component model is required to fit the data. The black-body temperature of this emission is $ {kT}=0.26^{0.03}_{0.02} $ keV and we find a 0.2–10 keV un-absorbed flux of 1.1 × 10−14 erg cm−2 s−1 or an un-absorbed luminosity of 1.5 × 1030 erg s−1.
Conclusion. Thanks to the previously determined mass and distance constraints of the neutron star PSR J1909–3744, and its predominantly thermal emission, deep observations of this object with future X-ray facilities should provide useful constraints on the neutron star equation of state.
Long-Term Ultrasound Follow-Up After Pediatric Adnexal Torsion
Authors: Smorgick Noam , Nir Omer , Pekar-Zlotin Marina , Maymon Shlomit , Pansky Moty , Maymon Ron 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Purpose Conservative surgical management of adnexal torsion in pre- and post-menarchal girls by de-torsion and adnexal conservation is the current standard of care. The aim of this study is to investigate the long-term outcome of adnexal torsion in this population in terms of ultrasound appearance and ovarian volume.
Methods Patients who were surgically treated for adnexal torsion and were < 18 years old at time of surgery were prospectively invited for ultrasound follow-up. The ultrasound exam included measurements of ovarian volume and grayscale appearance including identification of ovarian follicular activity.
Results 84 cases of torsion in this population were identified, and 37 of them were included in the study. Of those, the affected ovary could not be demonstrated on follow-up scan in six (16.2 %) cases. A difference of ≥ 2 cm3 in ovarian volume between the affected and non-affected ovaries was diagnosed in 12 (32.4 %) cases, but follicular activity was observed in 10 of those. Thus, possible ovarian injury (including cases of non-demonstrated ovary and volume difference of ≥ 2 cm3 between the affected and non-affected ovaries) was found in 18 (48.6 %) cases. Of the clinical and surgical parameters (including age at time of torsion, duration of pain prior to admission, cystectomy procedure and intraoperative “bluish” appearance of the ovary), only the presence of fever on admission was significantly associated with possible ovarian injury (p = 0.01).
Conclusion Long-term ultrasound follow-up of pre- and post-menarchal girls with a history of adnexal torsion may identify patients with adversely affected ovarian volume. The significance of this finding in terms of fertility is unknown.
Disinfection of Transvaginal Ultrasound Probes by Ultraviolet C – A clinical Evaluation of Automated and Manual Reprocessing Methods
Authors: Schmitz Johanna , Kossow Annelene , Oelmeier de Murcia Kathrin , Heese Sandra , Braun Janina , Möllmann Ute , Schmitz Ralf , Möllers Mareike 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Purpose Since pathogens can be transmitted to patients via transvaginal ultrasound probes, it is of particular importance that cleaning and disinfection are performed adequately. This study was designed to do a qualitative comparison of a low-level disinfection technique with disinfectant-impregnated wipes and an automated disinfection technique using ultraviolet C radiation in a clinical setting.
Materials and Methods The transvaginal ultrasound probes used in two groups of 160 patients were compared in a prospective controlled study regarding the effectiveness of manual low-level disinfection (Mikrozid sensitive wipes) and automated disinfection using ultraviolet C radiation (Antigermix AS1). Microbiological samples were taken from the whole surface of the probe before and after the disinfection process.
Results Before disinfection, 98.75 % (316/320) of the samples showed bacterial contamination. After automated and manual disinfection, the contamination rates were 34.2 % (54/158, automated) and 40.5 % (64/158, disinfectant wipes) (p > 0.05). Pathogens with the potential to cause healthcare-associated infections, such as Enterococcus faecalis and Klebsiella pneumoniae, were removed completely by both techniques. Manual disinfection showed a lower contamination rate after disinfection of bacteria that usually belong to the vaginal, pharyngeal and skin flora (disinfectant wipes 10.6 %, 11/104, automated 32.5 %, 38/117) (p < 0.001).
Conclusion For the clinical routine, automated disinfection with ultraviolet C is a promising technique for transvaginal ultrasound probes because of the simple handling and time efficiency. In our study, this method was completely effective against nosocomial pathogens. However, the study didn’t show any significant difference in terms of effectiveness compared to low-level wipe disinfection.
Lumbar Drain Tunneling: A Safe Two-Needle Technique
Authors: Deepti Srinivas , Ashwini Halesh , Venkatesh Keshavan 
Published: June 2019

AbstractLumbar drain catheter insertion for prolonged periods of time is necessary in a myriad of neurosurgical patients which entails its tunneling. We describe a safe and simple technique of catheter insertion and tunneling using two Tuohy needles instead of one, which prevents unintentional catheter damage during the procedure.
Smooth solutions of the eikonal equation and the behaviour of local minima of the distance function
Authors: Tsar’kov I. G. 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
We study smooth solutions of the eikonal equation. To do this, we investigate the problem of geometric-topological properties of the singularities of the distance function and the regular set. We establish a connection between the caustic and domains where the number of local minima of the distance function is constant. We pose a number of problems about reflecting surfaces bringing light to a single point (a focus) and introduce the notions of generalized ellipsoids and paraboloids.
Integrable geodesic flows on orientable two-dimensional surfaces and topological billiards
Authors: (Fokicheva) V. V. Vedyushkina , Fomenko A. T. 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
The authors have recently introduced the class of topological billiards. Topological billiards are glued from elementary planar billiard sheets (bounded by arcs of confocal quadrics) along intervals of their boundaries. It turns out that the integrability of the elementary billiards implies that of the topological billiards. We show that all classical linearly and quadratically integrable geodesic flows on tori and spheres are Liouville equivalent to appropriate topological billiards. Moreover, the linear and quadratic integrals of the geodesic flows reduce to a single canonical linear integral and a single canonical quadratic integral on the billiard. These results are obtained within the framework of the Fomenko–Zieschang theory of the classification of integrable systems.
Discovery of endoplasmic reticulum calcium stabilizers to rescue ER-stressed podocytes in nephrotic syndrome
Authors: Park Sun-Ji , Kim Yeawon , Yang Shyh-Ming , Henderson Mark J. , Yang Wei , Lindahl Maria , Urano Fumihiko , Chen Ying Maggie 
Published: June 2019

Significance
Podocyte injury is the hallmark of nephrotic syndrome (NS), a leading cause of chronic kidney disease affecting approximately 500 million people. We demonstrate that the podocyte endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium release channel, type 2 ryanodine receptor (RyR2), undergoes phosphorylation during ER stress. The accelerated podocyte ER calcium efflux due to leaky RyR2 activates cytosolic protease calpain 2, leading to podocyte injury. Most importantly, we have identified a chemical compound, K201, and a biotherapeutic protein, MANF, that can fix leaky RyR2 and inhibit podocyte injury. In addition, K201 can attenuate proteinuria in a podocyte ER stress-induced NS mouse model. The new class of drugs, podocyte ER calcium channel stabilizers, is an emerging therapeutic strategy to treat NS caused by ER dysfunction.
An interoceptive illusion of effort induced by false heart-rate feedback
Authors: Iodice Pierpaolo , Porciello Giuseppina , Bufalari Ilaria , Barca Laura , Pezzulo Giovanni 
Published: June 2019

Significance
To ensure our survival, the brain continuously estimates important homeostatic and physiological variables, such as our hunger, thirst, and effort levels. This estimate relies on multiple signals, most prominently on interoceptive signals coming from inside the body (e.g., cardiac and respiratory signals). Here we tested the hypothesis that providing false feedback about these signals produces an interoceptive illusion, that is a misperception of one’s own physiological state. We show that giving participants false (faster) acoustic feedback about their heartbeats during an effortful cycling task induced the illusion of making more effort. Rather, participants did not report lower effort when slower acoustic feedback was provided, suggesting that the brain considers the potential costs of underestimating effort and fatigue levels.
Dissecting fat-tailed fluctuations in the cytoskeleton with active micropost arrays
Authors: Shi Yu , Porter Christopher L. , Crocker John C. , Reich Daniel H. 
Published: June 2019

Significance
The cytoskeleton is a remarkable example of an active biomaterial and is at the heart of critically important problems in biology and medicine related to animal cells’ mechanical sensing and function. A satisfying physical understanding of the actomyosin cortex’s complex biophysics and mechanical properties has, however, proven elusive. We measure cytoskeletal motion, forces, and rheology using substrates containing arrays of flexible microscopic posts with high precision and statistical power. Surprisingly, the cytoskeletal networks display highly intermittent fluctuations whose energy content is dominated by rare large events, similar to what is seen in earthquakes or physical systems with avalanches. Our findings suggest that future cytoskeletal models must contain elements that self-organize onto a mechanically marginal state prone to avalanches.