bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D correlate with idiopathic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
Authors: Ding Jing , Liu Lei , Kong Wei-Kuan , Chen Xiao-Bing , Liu Xudong 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Background: The present study aimed to evaluate serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH) D) levels in Chinese patients with idiopathic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and to investigate the possible relationship between the occurrence and recurrence of idiopathic BPPV and low 25(OH) D levels. Methods: Between 1 January 2017 and 31 May, 2018, consecutively older patients (age, older than 50 years) with idiopathic BPPV were recruited in the present study. For each patient, 2:1 sex and age matched healthy people were assigned as the control group. The influence of 25(OH) D levels on BPPV and recurrent BPPV were performed by binary logistic regression analysis. Results: In the present study, 174 patients with BPPV and 348 controls were included. The serum levels of 25(OH) D in those patients were lower than in those controls (P&lt;0.001). One hundred eight patients were found to have vitamin D deficiency; thus, the prevalence was 62.1%, which was higher than that in the controls (42.8%). The data showed that patients with recurrent BPPV (N = 31) had lower serum levels of 25(OH) D compared with those who were not (11.2 ng/ml [interquartile range, 7.2–20.8 ng/ml] vs 18.7 ng/ml [14.2–24.8 ng/ml]). The regression analyses demonstrated that vitamin D deficiency was associated with BPPV and recurrent BPPV with an odds ratio of 2.15 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30–4.32; P=0.006) and 5.16 (95% CI, 1.00–34.12; P=0.05). Conclusion: Decreased serum levels of 25(OH)D were associated with the occurrence and recurrence of BPPV in a Chinese population, independent of other baseline markers.
Protective effect of dexmedetomidine on kidney injury of parturients with preeclampsia undergoing cesarean section: a randomized controlled study
Authors: Zhang Qing-lin , Wang Lei , Xu Ming-jun , Wang Tian-long 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
The present study aimed to elucidate the effects of dexmedetomidine on kidney injury of parturients with preeclampsia (PE) undergoing cesarean section. Total 134 cesarean delivery women with PE were randomly divided into intervention group (IG) and control group (CG). Both groups underwent combined spinal and epidural anesthesia (CSEA), the IG was treated with 0.4 μg/(kg·min) dexmedetomidine for 10 min before surgery. The CG was treated with equivalent saline. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure, oxygen saturation (SpO2) of the two groups were measured at different time point after administration. Level of inflammatory factors were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Visual analogue score (VAS), Ramsay sedation score (RSS), and kidney injury related indexes were evaluated at different time points. The plasma-drug concentration of patients was determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method. Compared with CG, HR, PE, and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) showed lower level while SpO2 showed higher level in IG. Furthermore, expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-10 in IG was decreased after drug administration, the contents of β2-MG, KIM-1 and urine protein were also decreased in contrast to the CG (all P&lt;0.05). Besides, VAS score was decreased but Ramsay score was increased in the IG (both P&lt;0.05). The results of HPLC showed that the half life of dexmedetomidine was about 20 min and it is speculated that the drug can be quickly metabolized within 24 h. Dexmedetomidine exerted protective effects on kidney injury of parturients with PE undergoing cesarean section.
One-Year Patient Outcomes for Robotic-Arm-Assisted versus Manual Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Marchand Robert C. , Sodhi Nipun , Anis Hiba K. , Ehiorobo Joseph , Newman Jared M. , Taylor Kelly , Condrey Caitlin , Hepinstall Matthew S. , Mont Michael A. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAlthough there are many studies on the alignment advantages when using the robotic arm–assisted (RAA) system for total knee arthroplasty (TKA), there have been questions regarding patient-reported outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to use this index to compare: (1) total, (2) physical function, and (3) pain scores for manual versus RAA patients. We compared 53 consecutive RAA to 53 consecutive manual TKAs. No differences in preoperative scores were found between the cohorts. Patients were administered a modified Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index satisfaction survey preoperatively and at 1-year postoperatively. The results were broken down to: (1) total, (2) physical function, and (3) pain scores. Univariate analysis with independent samples t-tests was used to compare 1-year postoperative scores. Multivariate models with stepwise backward linear regression were utilized to evaluate the associations between scores and surgical technique, age, sex, as well as body mass index (BMI). Statistical analyses were performed with a p < 0.05 to determine significance. The RAA cohort had significantly improved mean total (6 ± 6 vs. 9 ± 8 points, p = 0.03) and physical function scores (4 ± 4 vs. 6 ± 5 points, p = 0.02) when compared with the manual cohort. The mean pain score for the RAA cohort (2 ± 3 points [range, 0–14 points]) was also lower than that for the manual cohort (3 ± 4 points [range, 0–11 points]) (p = 0.06). On backward linear regression analyses, RAA was found to be significantly associated with more improved total (β coefficient [β] −0.208, standard error [SE] 1.401, p < 0.05), function (β = 0.216, SE = 0.829, p < 0.05), and pain scores (β −0.181, SE = 0.623, p = 0.063). The RAA technique was found to have the strongest association with improved scores when compared with age, gender, and BMI. This study suggests that RAA patients may have short-term improvements at minimum 1-year postoperatively. However, longer term follow-up with greater sample sizes is needed to further validate these results.
En bloc release of MVB‐like small extracellular vesicle clusters by colorectal carcinoma cells
Authors: Valcz Gábor , Buzás Edit I. , Kittel Ágnes , Krenács Tibor , Visnovitz Tamás , Spisák Sándor , Török György , Homolya László , Zsigrai Sára , Kiszler Gábor , Antalffy Géza , Pálóczi Krisztina , Szállási Zoltán , Szabó Vanessza , Sebestyén Anna , Solymosi Norbert , Kalmár Alexandra , Dede Kristóf , Lőrincz Péter , Tulassay Zsolt , Igaz Péter , Molnár Béla 
Published: April 2019

ABSTRACTSmall extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane enclosed structures that are usually released from cells upon exocytosis of multivesicular bodies (MVBs) as a collection of separate, free EVs. In this study, we analysed paraffin embedded sections of archived human colorectal cancer samples. We studied 3D reconstructions of confocal microscopic images complemented by HyVolution and STED imaging. Unexpectedly, we found evidence that large, MVB‐like aggregates of ALIX/CD63 positive EV clusters were released en bloc by migrating tumour cells. These structures were often captured with partial or complete extra‐cytoplasmic localization at the interface of the plasma membrane of the tumour cell and the stroma. Their diameter ranged between 0.62 and 1.94 μm (mean±S.D.: 1.17 ± 0.34 μm). High‐resolution 3D reconstruction showed that these extracellular MVB‐like EV clusters were composed of distinguishable internal particles of small EV size (mean±S.D.: 128.96 ± 16.73 nm). In vitro, HT29 colorectal cancer cells also showed the release of similar structures as confirmed by immunohistochemistry and immune electron microscopy. Our results provide evidence for an en bloc transmission of MVB‐like EV clusters through the plasma membrane. Immunofluorescent‐based detection of the MVB like small EV clusters in archived pathological samples may represent a novel and unique opportunity which enables analysis of EV release in situ in human tissues.
Plasma disinfection via the reduced-pH method using an ex vivo porcine contaminated skin model
Authors: Yokoyama Takashi , Ikawa Satoshi , Kitano Katsuhisa 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Plasma disinfection has been developed as a medical application using low temperature atmospheric pressure plasma. We identified an enhancement effect of the bactericidal activity of plasma treatment against a bacterial suspension by the acidification of the solution (the reduced-pH method). The key efficacy factor of the reduced-pH method was shown to be hydroperoxy radicals (HOO•). However, in the case of medical application, the efficacy of plasma disinfection on living body should be evaluated, because it have complicated surface structure and rich organic matter which can inhibit disinfection. Here, we demonstrated the efficacy of the reduced-pH method on the skin surface by using a porcine skin model. The bactericidal activity of plasma treatment at pH 3.7 and 6.6 was 3.7 and 0.8 log reduction, respectively. The enhancement effect of bactericidal activity was confirmed to be 4.6 on the skin at the tested pH conditions. The method for providing pH control on the skin surface was very simple, involving spreading of the pH buffer solution on the skin. The reduced-pH method may therefore serve as an essential technique for plasma disinfection on the human body, as one of the most important concerns for such treatment is to ensure low levels of thermal damage by the plasma jet. The reduced-pH method thus enables enhancement of the bactericidal activity of plasma treatment without increasing the plasma power.
Quantum current in dissipative systems
Authors: Hovhannisyan Karen V , Imparato Alberto 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Describing current in open quantum systems can be problematic due to the subtle interplay of quantum coherence and environmental noise. Probing the noise-induced current can be detrimental to the tunneling-induced current and vice versa. We derive a general theory for the probability current in quantum systems arbitrarily interacting with their environment that overcomes this difficulty. We show that the current can be experimentally measured by performing a sequence of weak and standard quantum measurements. We exemplify our theory by analyzing a simple Smoluchowski–Feynman-type ratchet consisting of two particles, operating deep in the quantum regime. Fully incorporating both thermal and quantum effects, the current generated in the model can be used to detect the onset of ‘genuine quantumness’ in the form of quantum contextuality. The model can also be used to generate steady-state entanglement in the presence of arbitrarily hot environment.
Level crossing in random matrices. II. Random perturbation of a random matrix
Authors: Grøsfjeld Tobias , Shapiro Boris , Zarembo Konstantin 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
In this paper we study the distribution of level crossings for the spectra of linear families

where A and B are square matrices independently chosen from some given Gaussian ensemble and

is a complex-valued parameter. We formulate a number of theoretical and numerical results for the classical Gaussian ensembles and some of their generalisations. Besides, we present intriguing numerical information about the monodromy distribution in case of linear families for the classical Gaussian ensembles of

-matrices.
Future Thinking in Korsakoff Syndrome
Authors: El Haj Mohamad , Moustafa Ahmed A , Nandrino Jean-Louis 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAimsPrior research has been mainly concerned with the ability of patients with Korsakoff syndrome (KS) to project themselves into the past. Little is known about the patients’ ability to project themselves into the future. We therefore compared past and future thinking in patients with KS.MethodsWe invited patients with KS and control participants to retrieve past events and reconstruct future events. Participants were also invited to rate subjective characteristics (i.e. time travel, emotional feeling, and visual imagery) of the past and future events.ResultsPatients with KS demonstrated low specificity, time travel, and emotional experience during past and future thinking. However, while lower emotional experience was observed in patients with KS than in the control participants during future thinking, no significant differences were observed between the two populations during past thinking. Regarding within-group comparisons, patients with KS demonstrated no significant differences between past and future thinking in terms of specificity, time travel, and visual imagery; however, they demonstrated higher emotional experience during past than during future thinking. Regarding control participants, they demonstrated no significant differences between past and future thinking in terms of specificity, time travel, emotional experience, and visual imagery.ConclusionOur findings demonstrate a diminished ability to construct specific future scenarios as well as a diminished subjective experience during future thinking in KS.
Response of photosynthesis, growth and water relations of a savannah-adapted tree and grass grown across high to low CO2
Authors: Quirk Joe , Bellasio Chandra , Johnson David A , Beerling David J 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBackground and AimsBy the year 2100, atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]a) could reach 800 ppm, having risen from ~200 ppm since the Neogene, beginning ~24 Myr ago. Changing [CO2]a affects plant carbon–water balance, with implications for growth, drought tolerance and vegetation shifts. The evolution of C4 photosynthesis improved plant hydraulic function under low [CO2]a and preluded the establishment of savannahs, characterized by rapid transitions between open C4-dominated grassland with scattered trees and closed forest. Understanding directional vegetation trends in response to environmental change will require modelling. But models are often parameterized with characteristics observed in plants under current climatic conditions, necessitating experimental quantification of the mechanistic underpinnings of plant acclimation to [CO2]a.MethodsWe measured growth, photosynthesis and plant–water relations, within wetting–drying cycles, of a C3 tree (Vachellia karroo, an acacia) and a C4 grass (Eragrostis curvula) grown at 200, 400 or 800 ppm [CO2]a. We investigated the mechanistic linkages between trait responses to [CO2]a under moderate soil drying, and photosynthetic characteristics.Key resultsFor V. karroo, higher [CO2]a increased assimilation, foliar carbon:nitrogen, biomass and leaf starch, but decreased stomatal conductance and root starch. For Eragrostis, higher [CO2]a decreased C:N, did not affect assimilation, biomass or starch, and markedly decreased stomatal conductance. Together, this meant that C4 advantages in efficient water-use over the tree were maintained with rising [CO2]a.ConclusionsAcacia and Eragrostis acclimated differently to [CO2]a, with implications for their respective responses to water limitation and environmental change. Our findings question the carbon-centric focus on factors limiting assimilation with changing [CO2]a, how they are predicted and their role in determining productivity. We emphasize the continuing importance of water-conserving strategies in the assimilation response of savannah plants to rising [CO2]a.
Decision Making in Preservation Rhinoplasty: A 100 Case Series With One-Year Follow-Up
Authors: Kosins Aaron M , Daniel Rollin K 
Published: April 2019

Abstract

Background
Preservation rhinoplasty (PR) is a new chapter in rhinoplasty history. The term was coined by Daniel in 2018 and represents a fundamental change in philosophy.

Objectives
The aim of this study is to discuss a single-surgeon case series utilizing PR techniques.

Methods
One hundred fifty-three primary rhinoplasty cases were studied retrospectively between December 2016 and August 2017. One hundred cases had at least 1 year of follow-up. Technical details were recorded, including dissection plane, ligament preservation, tip support, lateral crural maneuvers, alar contour grafts, and preservation of the dorsum vs traditional reduction. These 100 cases can be categorized as either complete preservation rhinoplasty (PR-C) or partial preservation rhinoplasty (PR-P).

Results
All patients had open rhinoplasty and the average follow-up time was 13 months. All patients had preservation of the dorsal soft tissue envelope, and in 36 the entire soft tissue envelope and ligaments were preserved. Fifty-four had preservation of the alar cartilages. Thirty-one had dorsal preservation. The combinations include: PR-C (skin, dorsum, and alars): 24; PR-P (skin and dorsum): 2; PR-P (alars and dorsum): 2; and PR-P (skin and alars): 7.

Conclusions
In most patients, the dorsal soft tissue envelope and nasal ligaments can be preserved. When possible, the lateral crura should be preserved and tensioning chosen over excision. Dorsal preservation is a versatile technique when proper patient selection is undertaken, and long-term issues with the middle vault and keystone area can be avoided. Some patients will benefit from total preservation where nothing is removed/disrupted and underlying structures are reshaped.

Level of Evidence: 4
Symmetrical discrimination despite weak song differentiation in 2 suboscine bird sister species
Authors: Macedo Gabriel , Silva Marco , Amaral Fábio Raposo do , Maldonado-Coelho Marcos 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Song mediates territorial competition and mate choice in birds and population divergence in this signal can have important evolutionary consequences. For example, divergent songs can act in specific recognition and limit gene flow and, hence, have a fundamental role on the origin and/or integrity of evolutionary lineages. Especially interesting systems to test the role of song in specific recognition are species pairs that present small structural differences in this signal. Here, we perform song play-back experiments on males of a long-diverged sister pair of Neotropical Suboscine species, the squamate antbird (Myrmoderus squamosus) and the white-bibbed antbird (Myrmoderus loricatus), which occur in parapatry in the Atlantic Forest and that overlap extensively in song variation. Previous evidence indicates that genetic introgression between these species is either absent or negligible, suggesting that vocal discrimination or other mechanisms function as effective barriers to gene flow. Our results show that responses to heterospecific songs were symmetrical and intermediary compared with responses to conspecific songs in both species. A stronger response to conspecific territorial songs suggests that conspecific individuals pose greater competitive threat than heterospecifics. An important implication of our study is that even small song differences can play an important role in specific recognition.
ASICS: an R package for a whole analysis workflow of 1D 1H NMR spectra
Authors: Lefort Gaëlle , Liaubet Laurence , Canlet Cécile , Tardivel Patrick , Père Marie-Christine , Quesnel Hélène , Paris Alain , Iannuccelli Nathalie , Vialaneix Nathalie , Servien Rémi 
Published: April 2019

Abstract

Motivation
In metabolomics, the detection of new biomarkers from Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra is a promising approach. However, this analysis remains difficult due to the lack of a whole workflow that handles spectra pre-processing, automatic identification and quantification of metabolites and statistical analyses, in a reproducible way.

Results
We present ASICS, an R package that contains a complete workflow to analyse spectra from NMR experiments. It contains an automatic approach to identify and quantify metabolites in a complex mixture spectrum and uses the results of the quantification in untargeted and targeted statistical analyses. ASICS was shown to improve the precision of quantification in comparison to existing methods on two independent datasets. In addition, ASICS successfully recovered most metabolites that were found important to explain a two level condition describing the samples by a manual and expert analysis based on bucketing. It also found new relevant metabolites involved in metabolic pathways related to risk factors associated with the condition.

Availability and implementation
ASICS is distributed as an R package, available on Bioconductor.

Supplementary information
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Everything Is Related and It All Leads Up to My Mental Well-Being: A Qualitative Study of the Determinants of Mental Wellness Amongst Urban Indigenous Elders
Authors: Schill Kaela , Terbasket Edna , Thurston Wilfreda E , Kurtz Donna , Page Stacey , McLean Freda , Jim Randy , Oelke Nelly 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIndigenous peoples in Canada often experience a greater burden of poor health and wellness relative to non-Indigenous Canadians due to a legacy of colonisation and racism. However, Indigenous mental wellness outcomes vary by community, and it is essential to understand how a community has been impacted by the determinants to improve mental wellness outcomes. This article shares insight from a research partnership with the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society, an urban Indigenous community service organisation. The study used a decolonising, qualitative methodology in which urban Indigenous Elders shared their knowledge of mental wellness and experiences of services and supports. Elders described mental wellness holistically, connected to their relationships, land, language and culture. They described several determinants of wellness including identity, poverty, transportation, abuse and trauma. Elders shared experiences of culturally unsafe care and identified colonisation as root causes of poor mental wellness. They shared how some determinants affect urban Indigenous communities uniquely. This included limited transportation to cultural activities outside urban centres, such as medicine picking, the importance of urban organisations (such as Aboriginal Friendship Centres) in developing social support networks, and the role of discrimination, racism and inequitable care as barriers to accessing services in urban centres.
Evaluation of an Experimentally Designed Molecular Imprinted Polyurethane Foam Performance for Extraction of Alprazolam
Authors: Tavakoli Zeynab , Soleimani Majid , Nikje Mir Mohammad Alavi 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Industrial polyurethane rigid foam (PUF) was selected as a substrate for selective solid phase extraction of Alprazolam. Effective parameters for raising selectivity of the PUF were evaluated. Synthetic molecularly imprinted polyurethane foam (MIPUF) was tracked as selective adsorbent and its characteristic was pondered by analytical methods. Optimization was done by central composite design (CCD) to have high efficiency of the polymer adsorption. Two different extraction methods were compared in the selective adsorption processes using MIPUF and NIPUF, batch system and continuous (cartridge) system. Results of the adsorption of alprazolam on the MIPUF had 39% more recovery than NIPUF (reference polymer). Then, the proposed method suggests a selective extraction of mentioned analyte from urine and tablets as complex matrixes.