bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical features, predictors, and long‐term prognosis of pacing‐induced cardiomyopathy
Authors: Cho Sung Woo , Gwag Hye Bin , Hwang Jin Kyung , Chun Kwang Jin , Park Kyoung‐Min , On Young Keun , Kim June Soo , Park Seung‐Jung 
Published: February 2019

AimsWe investigated the clinical features, predictors, and long‐term prognosis of pacing‐induced cardiomyopathy (PiCM).Methods and resultsFrom a retrospective analysis of 1418 consecutive pacemaker patients, 618 were found to have a preserved baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), follow‐up echocardiographic data, and no history of heart failure (HF). PiCM was defined as a reduction in LVEF (< 50%) along with either (i) a ≥ 10% decrease in LVEF, or (ii) new‐onset regional wall motion abnormality unrelated to coronary artery disease. PiCM occurred in 87 of 618 patients (14.1%), with a decrease in mean LVEF from 60.5% to 40.1%. The median time to PiCM was 4.7 years. Baseline left bundle branch block, wider paced QRS duration (≥ 155 ms), and higher ventricular pacing percentage (≥ 86%) were identified as independent predictors of PiCM in multivariate logistic regression analysis. The risk of PiCM increased gradually with the number of identified predictors, becoming more significant in the presence of two or more predictors (P < 0.001). During the entire follow‐up (median 7.2 years), the risk of all‐cause death or HF admission was significantly higher in patients with PiCM compared to those without PiCM (38.3% vs. 54.0%, adjusted hazard ratio 2.93; 95% confidence interval 1.82–4.72; P < 0.001).ConclusionPacing‐induced cardiomyopathy patients showed a worse long‐term prognosis than those without PiCM. Therefore, patients with multiple risk factors of PiCM should be monitored carefully even if their left ventricular systolic function is preserved initially. A timely upgrade to a biventricular or His‐bundle pacing device needs to be considered in patients with PiCM.
Brass and Glass: Crystal Structure Solution and Phase Characterisation of the Corrosion Product Zn4Cu3(Zn1–xCux)6(HCOO)8(OH)18·6(H2O)
Authors: Bette Sebastian , Fischer Andrea , Stelzner Jörg , Eggert Gerhard , Dinnebier Robert E. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractInvited for the cover of this issue is Sebastian Bette from the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart, Germany. The cover image shows a picture and structure of a corrosion phase formed at the contact between historic glass and brass.
Measurement of Signal‐to‐Noise Ratio In Graphene‐based Passive Microelectrode Arrays
Authors: Rastegar Sepideh , Stadlbauer Justin , Pandhi Twinkle , Karriem Lynn , Fujimoto Kiyo , Kramer Kyle , Estrada David , Cantley Kurtis D. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThis work aims to investigate the influence of various electrode materials on the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of passive microelectrode arrays (MEAs) intended for use in neural interfaces. Noise reduction substantially improves the performance of systems which electrically interface with extracellular solutions. The MEAs are fabricated using gold, indium tin oxide (ITO), inkjet printed (IJP) graphene, and chemical vapor deposited (CVD) graphene. 3D‐printed Nylon reservoirs are adhered to glass substrates with identical MEA patterns and filled with neuronal cell culture media. To precisely control the electrode area and minimize the parasitic coupling of metal interconnects and solution, SU‐8 photoresist is patterned to expose only the area of the electrode to solution and cap the remainder of the sample. Voltage signals with varying amplitude and frequencies are applied to the solution using glass micropipettes, and the response is measured on an oscilloscope from a microprobe placed on the contact pad external to the reservoir. The time domain response signal is transformed into a frequency spectrum, and SNR is calculated. As the magnitude or the frequency of the input signal gets larger, a significantly increased signal‐to‐noise ratio was observed in CVD graphene MEAs compared to others. This result indicates that 2‐dimensional nanomaterials such as graphene can provide better signal integrity and potentially lead to improved performance in hybrid neural interface systems.
Specific and Rapid Glucose Detection Using NAD‐dependent Glucose Dehydrogenase, Diaphorase, and Osmium Complex
Authors: Haque Al‐Monsur Jiaul , Nandhakumar Ponnusamy , Yang Haesik 
Published: February 2019

AbstractSelective glucose measurement in serum and blood and rapid glucose measurement using nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)‐dependent glucose dehydrogenase (NAD‐GDH) are still very challenging. Here, we report a selective and rapid glucose sensor, based on electrochemical‐enzymatic‐enzymatic (ENN) redox cycling involving bis(2,2‐bipyridyl)dichloroosmium(II) [Os(bpy)2Cl2], diaphorase (DI), NAD+, NAD‐GDH, and glucose. DI and Os(bpy)2Cl2 are used to obtain fast mediated oxidation of NADH that is generated as a result of glucose oxidation by NAD‐GDH. DI and NAD‐GDH are co‐immobilized via affinity binding on an avidin‐modified indium tin oxide electrode to obtain fast and stable ENN redox cycling. Two enzymes (DI and NAD‐GDH) and two electron mediators [Os(bpy)2Cl2 and NAD+] are insensitive to oxygen. The applied potential (0.0 V vs Ag/AgCl) is low enough to minimize interfering electrochemical reactions, and the redox reactions of Os(bpy)2Cl2 with interfering species are slow. NAD‐GDH is much less reactive to problematic monosaccharides such as xylose, fructose, galactose, and mannose than glucose. Artificial serum containing 5 % (w/v) human serum albumin shows a similar electrochemical background level in serum. All results enable us to obtain selective and reproducible glucose detection. The fast ENN redox cycling allows sensitive glucose detection with a wide range of concentrations in artificial serum with a short measuring time (5 s) without an incubation period.
Flow cytometry and growth‐based analysis of the effects of fruit sanitation on the physiology of Escherichia coli in orange juice
Authors: Anvarian Amir H. P. , Smith Madeleine P. , Overton Tim W. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractChlorine‐based solutions are commonly used to sanitize orange fruits prior to juice extraction. We used flow cytometry (FCM) to investigate the physiology of Escherichia coli following its subjection to chlorine‐based solutions and alternative sanitizing agents (H2O2 and organic acids). Green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐generating E. coli K‐12 were washed with 50–200 ppm available chlorine (AC), 1%–5% H2O2, 2%–4% citric acid, 4% acetic acid, or 4% lactic acid, after which they were added to 1.2 μm‐filtered orange juice (OJ). Cell physiology was investigated with FCM during storage at 4°C, and culturability was determined using plate counting. Analysis of GFP fluorescence allowed estimation of intracellular pH (pHi). FCM results demonstrated an inverse relationship between the concentration of AC or H2O2 and cellular health in OJ. Higher concentrations of sanitizer also resulted in a significantly greater number of viable but nonculturable (VBNC) cells. Real‐time FCM showed that supplementation of AC with 2% citric acid, but not with 100 ppm of Tween‐80, led to a significant reduction in pHi of the cells incubated in OJ, and that the majority of the reduction in pHi occurred during the first 2 min of incubation in OJ. Organic acids were found to be more effective than both AC and H2O2 in reducing the pHi, viability, and culturability of the cells in OJ. The results confirmed the hypothesis that consecutive subjection of E. coli to maximum legally permitted concentrations of sanitizers and OJ induces the VBNC state. Furthermore, we demonstrate successful application of FCM for monitoring the efficacy of washing procedures.
Improving volatility prediction and option valuation using VIX information: A volatility spillover GARCH model
Authors: Pan Zhiyuan , Wang Yudong , Liu Li , Wang Qing 
Published: February 2019

AbstractWe develop a new generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model that accounts for the information spillover between two markets. This model is used to detect the usefulness of the CBOE volatility index (VIX) for improving the performance of volatility forecasting and option pricing. We find the significant ability of VIX to predict stock volatility both in‐sample and out‐of‐sample. VIX information also helps to greatly reduce the option pricing error. The proposed volatility spillover GARCH model performs better than the related approaches proposed by Kanniainen et al. (2014, J Bank Finance, 43, pp. 200‐211) and P. Christoffersen et al. (2014, J Financ Quant Anal, 49, pp. 663–697).
Urban micromorphology: A microecological narrative of a Neopalatial neighborhood at Bronze Age Palaikastro, Crete
Authors: Kulick Rachel 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe new micromorphological evidence from the 2013–2015 Palace and Landscape at Palaikastro (PALAP) excavations (Crete, Greece) provides significant information on a new area of the Bronze Age urban center of Palaikastro and its surrounding environment—a microecological narrative. The evidence suggests that slope processes had a significant impact on the area of three newly excavated buildings during the Neopalatial period (1650/1640–1440/1430 B.C.). The findings indicate that phases of gradual sediment accumulation, associated with flooding and eolian deposition, occurred during the Middle Minoan III to Late Minoan IA periods; such phases may indicate active slope or landscape management (e.g., terracing). In contrast, periods of increased slope instability, possibly relating to abandonment phases, occurred in the Late Minoan IB period. Combined with other archaeological evidence, micromorphological observations suggest a local aridity event in Late Minoan IB, and this dry period may be connected to larger regional and Mediterranean climatic patterns.
The recall of dementia‐related and neutral words by people with dementia: The ironic process of thought suppression
Authors: Cheston Richard , Dodd Emily , Hart India , Christopher Gary 
Published: February 2019

ObjectiveThought suppression may not work effectively when people have a cognitive impairment. This study tests whether participants with dementia showed lessened or enhanced recall and recognition of dementia‐related words compared with a control population.MethodsFifty participants living with dementia with mild levels of cognitive impairment and a control group of 52 participants without a diagnosis of dementia took part. A list of 12 words, composed of six dementia‐related and six neutral words matched for frequency and length, was read out on four occasions, with the word order being varied for each presentation. Recognition was also assessed.ResultsThere was an interaction between word‐type and participant group at both recall and recognition. While control participants recalled more neutral than dementia‐related words, there was no difference for dementia participants. However, dementia participants recognised a significantly higher proportion of the dementia‐related words, while there was no difference in word‐type recognition for control participants.ConclusionsThis study adapts a social psychological paradigm to explore whether an important psychological mechanism for reducing distress can be affected by cognitive impairment. Our findings suggest that for people living with dementia, thought suppression may be either ineffective in reducing conscious awareness of distal threats or operate in an ironic fashion. While threatening proximal material may be repressed from awareness, distal threats may return into implicit awareness. This casts new light on research and has clinical implications.
Induction of squamous cell carcinoma after MAP3K8 overexpression in murine salivry gland epithelial cells
Authors: Lee Jun‐Han , Jeong Joseph H. , Kim Tae‐Hwan , Kim So‐yeon , Kim Kyung‐Eun , Seong Je Kyung , Lee Sang Hyuk 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundSalivary gland neoplasms are relatively rare and comprise only 1%‐4% of all human neoplasms. Salivary gland neoplasms also show an extremely wide range of morphological diversity. Currently, the genetic alterations and corresponding molecular mechanisms underlying salivary gland neoplasms development remain largely unknown.MethodWe generated an inducible Tet‐MAP3K8::MMTV‐rTA mouse model by crossing the MAP3K8 transgenic mice with MMTR‐rTA transgenic mice to express MAP3K8 in the salivary gland.ResultsMAP3K8 overexpression in the murine salivary glands of Tet‐MAP3K8::MMTR‐rTA transgenic mice induces tumorigenesis. Pathological investigations reveal partial fibrosis and adenosis of salivary glands, and foci of atypical squamoid cellular proliferation, which represent invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).ConclusionMAP3K8 overexpression is associated with SCC development in murine salivary glands. It provides an in vivo framework for the understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying SCC development in the salivary glands and also for the development of a future therapeutic strategy targeting this tumor type.
Assessment of severity in neuropsychiatric disorders based on radiomic features with prior shape level set and metaheuristic algorithms
Authors: Latha Manohar , Kavitha Ganesan 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe diagnostic and clinical overlap between schizophrenia (SZ) and schizoaffective (SA) is vital oncological issue in psychiatry disorder. This study is designed to examine tissue variation in cerebellum region. Shape prior levelset method is used to segment cerebellum from MR image, and is subdivided by symmetry line detection. Radiomic features are extracted and subjected to Binary PSO (BPSO) fuzzy‐SVM classifier. This work is evaluated on COBRE database. The results show that, shape prior levelset could segment cerebellum region with better similarity values. The Laplacian of Gaussian and structure tensor features extracted from right cerebellum gives high significance between SA and SZ (P < 0.00001). The BPSO‐FSVM could classify the normal, SA, and SZ with an accuracy of 88.33%. The AUC is 0.913 for the combined features extracted from right cerebellum. It is concluded that optimized feature selection‐based classifier gives better results. This study is clinically helpful in the investigation of psychiatry disorder.
Effects of Drip Irrigation Frequency on Emitter Clogging using Saline Water for Processing Tomato Production
Authors: Lili Zhangzhong , Peiling Yang , Wengang Zheng , Yu Liu , Mengji Guo , Fengru Yang 
Published: February 2019

AbstractAs an important parameter of drip irrigation using saline water, irrigation frequency not only affects crop growth by changing the soil moisture–salinity distribution, but also influences the anti‐clogging performance of the drip irrigation system by changing fouling growth inside emitters. Hence, a representative medium‐salt‐tolerant crop of processing tomatoes was selected as the research object. The effects of different drip irrigation frequencies (S1 (1‐day irrigation interval), S2 (2‐day irrigation interval) and S3 (4‐day irrigation interval)) on the clogging characteristics of emitters were analysed via a 2‐year drip irrigation experiment using saline water between 2013 and 2014. The results showed that the discharge ratio variation (Dra) and the Christiansen uniformity coefficient (CU) of the emitters decreased as the irrigation interval increased, while there was a negative linear correlation between Dra and the irrigation interval (R2 > 0.79). The highest Dra and CU values of 80.9 and 78.0% were observed in high‐frequency irrigation (S1) after 2 years of planting. Moreover, clogging fouling inside the emitter accumulated gradually and exhibited a significant positive linear correlation with irrigation interval time (R2 > 0.80). The chemical components of clogging fouling, which were calcium magnesium carbonates, quartz, silicates, and sodium chloride, were the same under different irrigation frequencies. The emitter clogging of drip irrigation systems using saline water for processing tomato production in the Hetao irrigation area presented a composite clogging (mainly chemical clogging associated with physical clogging). Considering previous research, a high frequency of once per day is recommended for drip irrigation using saline water. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exploring the contribution of mobile money to well‐being from a capability perspective
Authors: Adaba Godfried B. , Ayoung Daniel A. , Abbott Pamela 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThis study considered the impact of mobile money on well‐being and development from a capability perspective using data from the Upper East Region of Northern Ghana. The evidence suggests varied capability enhancing benefits of mobile money use, ranging from empowerment to participate in the financial system, to choice, and agency to meet various functionings that contribute to better well‐being outcomes in employment, health, and education. Erratic power supply and a poor network signal in some communities are unfreedoms that need removing for people to take advantage of the huge well‐being and human development potential of mobile money. The long‐term dependency on family and social networks for monetary support is a capability diminishing feature of mobile money. The study findings support the necessity to adopt a multifaceted and pragmatic conceptualisation of development in information and communication technology for development research.
Blockage of transferred exosome‐shuttled miR‐494 inhibits melanoma growth and metastasis
Authors: Li Jingjing , Chen Jia , Wang Shaohua , Li Ping , Zheng Changli , Zhou Xiao , Tao Yongguang , Chen Xiang , Sun Lichun , Wang Aijun , Cao Ke , Tang Shijie , Zhou Jianda 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThere is emerging evidence of bioactive material transport by exosomes in melanoma. However, the functions of exosome content underlying such cancer progression remain largely unknown. We aimed at determining whether exosome secretion contributes to cellular microRNA‐494 (miR‐494) loss and investigated the roles of miR‐494 in melanoma progression. The exosomes from blood serum and cell culture conditioned media were separated by ultracentrifugation. A short hairpin RNA was used to silence rab27a for inhibiting exosome release. To address the functional role of exosomal miR‐494, we assessed cell proliferation, migration, invasion capabilities, and cell apoptosis. Finally, subcutaneous xenograft and lung‐metastasis models were constructed to determine the effect of exosomal miR‐494 in vivo. Based on long noncoding RNA microarray analysis of melanocyte and melanoma‐derived exosomes from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, we discovered that miR‐494 was enriched in melanoma‐derived exosomes. And miR‐494 was increased in exosomes secreted from melanoma patients’ serum and A375 cells. Rab27a depletion reduced exosome secretion and rescued the abundance of cellular miR‐494. Functional studies revealed that knockdown of rab27a and subsequent accumulation of miR‐494 significantly suppressed the malignant phenotypes of melanoma cells via inducing cell apoptosis. Nude mice experiments confirmed that tumor growth and metastasis were suppressed by increasing miR‐494 accumulation after rab27a depletion. In conclusion, blocking transferred exosome‐shuttled miR‐494 is a potential therapeutic option for melanoma.
Transcriptional cofactor Vgll2 is required for functional adaptations of skeletal muscle induced by chronic overload
Authors: Honda Masahiko , Tsuchimochi Hirotsugu , Hitachi Keisuke , Ohno Seiko 
Published: February 2019

AbstractSkeletal muscle is composed of heterogeneous populations of myofibers classified as slow‐ and fast‐twitch fibers. Myofiber size and composition are drastically changed in response to physiological demands. We previously showed that transcriptional cofactor vestigial‐like (Vgll) 2 is a pivotal regulator of slow muscle gene programming under sedentary conditions. However, whether Vgll2 is required for skeletal muscle adaptations after chronic overload is unclear. Therefore, we investigated the role of Vgll2 in chronic overload‐inducing skeletal muscle adaptations using synergist ablation (SA) on plantaris. We found that Vgll2 is an essential regulator of the switch towards a slow‐contractile phenotype and oxidative metabolism during chronic overload. Mice lacking Vgll2 exhibited limited fiber type transition and downregulation of genes related to lactate metabolism and their regulator peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α1, after SA, was augmented in Vgll2‐deficient mice compared with in wild‐type mice. Mechanistically, increased muscle usage elevated Vgll2 levels and promoted the interaction between Vgll2 and its transcription partners such as TEA domain1 (TEAD1), MEF2c, and NFATc1. Calcium ionophore treatment promoted nuclear translocation of Vgll2 and increased TEAD‐dependent MYH7 promotor activity in a Vgll2‐dependent manner. Taken together, these data demonstrate that Vgll2 plays an important role for functional adaptation of skeletal muscle to chronic overload.
Economic evaluation of direct‐acting antivirals for the treatment of genotype 3 hepatitis C infection in Singapore
Authors: Wong Yu‐Jun , Cheen McVin HH , Hsiang John C , Kumar Rahul , Tan Jessica , Teo Eng K , Thurairajah Prem H 
Published: February 2019

Background and AimThe prohibitively high cost of direct‐acting antivirals (DAA) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a barrier to treatment access in Singapore. We aimed to evaluate whether DAA as first‐line therapy would be cost‐effective for genotype 3 (GT3) HCV patients compared with pegylated interferon and ribavirin (PR).MethodsA decision tree analysis was used to compare the costs and outcomes of DAA and PR as first‐line therapy. Treatment effectiveness, defined as sustained virological response, was assessed using a retrospective cohort of treated GT3 HCV patients. Direct medical costs were estimated from the payer’s perspective using billing information. We obtained health utilities from published literature. We performed extensive one‐way sensitivity analyses and probabilistic sensitivity analyses to account for uncertainties regarding the model parameters.ResultsIn base case analysis, first‐line therapy with DAA and PR yielded quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) of 0.69 and 0.62 at a cost of USD 54 634 and USD 23 857, respectively. The resultant incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) (USD 449 232/QALY) exceeded the willingness‐to‐pay threshold (USD 53 302/QALY). The ICER was robust for uncertainties regarding the model parameters. The cost of DAA is the key factor influencing the cost‐effectiveness of HCV treatment. At current price, DAA as first‐line therapy is not cost‐effective compared with PR, with or without consideration of retreatment. Threshold analysis suggested that DAA can be cost‐effective if it costs less than USD 17 002 for a 12‐week treatment course.ConclusionAt current price, DAA as first‐line therapy is not cost‐effective compared with PR in GT3 HCV patients in Singapore.