bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Atrial transseptal left ventricular lead implantation for cardiac resynchronization therapy using arteriovenous loop technique
Authors: Liang Yixiu , Zhou Daxin , Wang Jingfeng , Qin Shengmei , Chen Xueying , Su Yangang , Ge Junbo 
Published: March 2018

AbstractTo date, several techniques for transseptal left ventricular (LV) endocardial pacing for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) have been proposed in patients for whom routine transvenous LV pacing is infeasible. These techniques are of varying difficulty and complexity, and some requires devices not easily accessible. We herein report a simple, safe and effective approach of atrial transseptal LV lead implantation using arteriovenous loop technique in a patient for whom transvenous LV implantation lead had failed.
Intraoperative hypoxia secondary to pneumothorax: The role of lung ultrasound
Authors: Mirabile Cristian , Malekzadeh‐Milani Sophie , Vinh Tran Quang , Haydar Ayman 
Published: March 2018

SummaryIntraoperative pneumothorax during general anesthesia is a dangerous event. It is a possible cause of sudden intraoperative hypoxia, which can be critical especially in high‐risk patients such as those with end‐stage heart failure. Early diagnosis and effective treatment are essential. We describe the case of a pneumothorax during cardiac transplantation, diagnosed by ultrasound and immediately treated. A good skill in lung ultrasound is advantageous in the management of intraoperative hypoxia, particularly for prompt diagnosis of pneumothorax.
Reference genes forRT‐qPCRnormalisation in different tissues, developmental stages and stress conditions of amaranth
Authors: Vera Hernández F. P. , Martínez Núñez M. , Ruiz Rivas M. , Vázquez Portillo R. E. , Bibbins Martínez M. D. , Luna Suárez S. , Rosas Cárdenas F.de F. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractStudies of gene expression are very important for the identification of genes that participate in different biological processes. Currently, reverse transcription quantitative real‐time PCR (RT‐qPCR) is a high‐throughput, sensitive and widely used method for gene expression analysis. Nevertheless, RT‐qPCR requires precise normalisation of data to avoid the misinterpretation of experimental data. In this sense, the selection of reference genes is critical for gene expression analysis. At this time, several studies focus on the selection of reference genes in several species. However, the identification and validation of reference genes for the normalisation of RT‐qPCR have not been described in amaranth.A set of seven housekeeping genes were analysed using RT‐qPCR, to determine the most stable reference genes in amaranth for normalisation of gene expression analysis. Transcript stability and gene expression level of candidate reference genes were analysed in different tissues, at different developmental stages and under different types of stress. The data were compared using the geNorm, NormFinder and Bestkeeper statistical methods.The reference genes optimum for normalisation of data varied with respect to treatment. The results indicate thatAhyMDH, AhyGAPDH, AhyEF‐1α andAhyACTwould be optimum for accurate normalisation of experimental data, when all treatment are analysed in the same experiment.This study presents the most stable reference genes for normalisation of gene expression analysis in amaranth, which will contribute significantly to future gene studies of this species.
Spatiotemporal dynamics of citrus huanglongbing spread: a case study
Authors: Gasparoto M. C. G. , Hau B. , Bassanezi R. B. , Rodrigues J. C. , Amorim L. 
Published: March 2018

Citrus huanglongbing (HLB) is a severe disease caused by ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ and vectored by Diaphorina citri. In commercial orchards, where the disease is controlled by removal of trees with symptoms and by frequent vector control, epidemics of HLB are mostly driven by primary infections from inoculum sources external to the orchard. It has been previously shown that the density of D. citri populations is usually higher around the edges than the inner sections of HLB‐affected citrus orchards. Consequently, diseased trees are also concentrated on the edges of orchards. However, there is a lack of quantitative data on HLB gradient dynamics over long periods of time. The objective of this study was to characterize temporal HLB progress and spatiotemporal gradient dynamics over six years in a large citrus farm where the disease was managed according to standard recommendations. Disease incidence and annual disease progress rates were higher at the citrus blocks closer to the edge than those located around inner sections of the farm. A decreasing logistic function provided a good description of the spatiotemporal dynamics of HLB gradients. A fixed slope of disease gradients was estimated over time and diseased trees were observed up to 1500 m from the orchard border. These results confirm that primary infection is the main factor for the progress of HLB epidemics in an orchard under the recommended three‐pronged system management. Therefore, HLB management should be intensified at the blocks located on the edges of the orchards and extended to external sources of inoculum.
Association between prenatal psychological stress and oxidative stress during pregnancy
Authors: Eick Stephanie M. , Barrett Emily S. , van ‘t Erve Thomas J. , Nguyen Ruby H. N. , Bush Nicole R. , Milne Ginger , Swan Shanna H. , Ferguson Kelly K. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackgroundPrenatal psychological stress during pregnancy has been associated with adverse reproductive outcomes. A growing animal literature supports an association between psychological stress and oxidative stress. We assessed this relationship in pregnant women, hypothesising that psychological stress is associated with higher concentrations of oxidative stress biomarkers during pregnancy.MethodsPsychosocial status and stressful life events (SLE) were self‐reported. 8‐iso‐prostaglandin F2α (8‐iso‐PGF2α) was measured as a biomarker of oxidative stress in urine samples at median 32 weeks’ gestation. We examined SLEs individually (ever vs never) and in summary (any vs none) and psychosocial status as measured by individual subscales and in summary (poor vs good). Linear models estimated associations between these parameters and urinary 8‐iso‐PGF2α concentrations after adjusting for covariates.ResultsThe geometric mean of 8‐iso‐PGF2α was significantly higher among pregnant women who were non‐White, smokers, had less than a college education, higher pre‐pregnancy BMI and were unmarried. Having ever had a death in the family (n = 39) during pregnancy was associated with a 22.9% increase in 8‐iso‐PGF2α in unadjusted models (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.50, 48.8). Poor psychosocial status was associated with a 13.1% (95% CI 2.43, 25.0) greater mean 8‐iso‐PGF2α in unadjusted analyses. Associations were attenuated, but remained suggestive, after covariate adjustment.ConclusionsThese data suggest that 8‐iso‐PGF2α is elevated in pregnant women with who are at a sociodemographic disadvantage and who have higher psychological stress in pregnancy. Previous studies have observed that 8‐iso‐PGF2α levels are associated with adverse birth outcomes, oxidative stress could be a mediator in these relationships.
Supplementation with sunflower seeds in beef cattle did not impact on oocyte and in vitro embryo production
Authors: Baltazar AL , de Mattos GM , Ropelli BM , Firetti SMG , Castilho C , Pugliesi G , Maldonado MBC , Binelli M , Silva JOF , Lupatini GC , Lafuente BS , Membrive CMB 
Published: March 2018

ContentsSupplementation with compounds rich in linoleic acid, including sunflower seed supplementation, promotes increase in conception rates in cows. We aimed to evaluate whether the sunflower seed (linoleic acid source) supplementation in beef donor females alters the plasma concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL, increases the number and quality of oocytes, increases the cleavage rates and determines an improvement in number and quality of in vitro produced blastocysts. Thus, Nelore females were divided into two groups of 15 animals to receive supplementation with or without sunflower seed for 57 days. Females underwent follicular aspiration and the oocytes were subjected to in vitro embryo production. There was no difference (p > .1) between control group and group supplemented with sunflower seed on the number of displayed follicles; number of aspired oocytes; recovery rate; cleavage rate; number of embryos; number of blastocysts; embryos number of grades I and II; plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides; HDL and LDL. Therefore, sunflower seed supplementation in oocyte donors did not increase the number and quality of oocytes, cleavage rates and the number and quality of blastocysts produced in vitro.
Modelling Non-Stationary Multivariate Time Series of Counts via Common Factors
Authors: Wang Fangfang , Wang Haonan 
Published: March 2018

SummaryWe develop a new parameter-driven model for multivariate time series of counts. The time series is not necessarily stationary. We model the mean process as the product of modulating factors and unobserved stationary processes. The former characterizes the long-run movement in the data, whereas the latter is responsible for rapid fluctuations and other unknown or unavailable covariates. The unobserved stationary processes evolve independently of the past observed counts and might interact with each other. We express the multivariate unobserved stationary processes as a linear combination of possibly low dimensional factors that govern the contemporaneous and serial correlation within and across the observed counts. Regression coefficients in the modulating factors are estimated via pseudo-maximum-likelihood estimation, and identification of common factor(s) is carried out through eigenanalysis on a positive definite matrix that pertains to the autocovariance of the observed counts at non-zero lags. Theoretical validity of the two-step estimation procedure is documented. In particular, we establish consistency and asymptotic normality of the pseudo-maximum-likelihood estimator in the first step and the convergence rate of the second-step estimator. We also present an exhaustive simulation study to examine the finite sample performance of the estimators, and numerical results corroborate our theoretical findings. Finally, we illustrate the use of the proposed model through an application to the numbers of National Science Foundation fundings awarded to seven research universities from January 2001 to December 2012.
Sedimentological analysis of a Late Quaternary coastal dune system: An example from Gopnath, south‐east Saurashtra, Western India
Authors: Acharya Bhaskar , Bhatt Nilesh 
Published: March 2018

AbstractCoastal dune systems consisting of allochemical grains are important sedimentary archives of Pleistocene age in both of the hemispheres between the latitudes of 20° to 40°. The south Saurashtra coast in western India exhibits a large section of Middle Pleistocene aeolianites in the form of coastal cliffs, which is famous as ‘Miliolite’. Miliolites of Gopnath in south‐east Saurashtra are the oldest known coastal aeolianite deposits (age >156 ka which corresponds to Marine Isotope Stage 6) in western India. Aeolian deposits of similar ages have also been reported from the Thar Desert in north‐west India and from Southern Arabia which were largely controlled by the south‐west monsoon wind system that affects the entire belt corresponding to Sahara–Sahel, the Arabian Peninsula and north‐western India. Miliolite deposits in Gopnath are characterized by grainfall, grainflow and wind ripple laminations. At least three types of aeolian bounding surfaces have been identified. Five major facies have been identified which represent the dune and interdune relationship within the coastal aeolian system. The major dune bodies are identified as transverse dune types. The Gopnath aeolianites were deposited under dominantly dry aeolian conditions. Facies association reveals two different phases of aeolian accumulation, namely initiation of aeolian sedimentation after a prolonged hiatus and the establishment of a regularized aeolian sedimentation system. While initiation of aeolian sedimentation is marked by vast stretches of sheet sand with occasional dune bodies, the overlying thick, tabular, laterally extensive cross‐stratified units manifest regular aeolian sedimentation. However, the dune building events in Gopnath were interrupted by development of laterally extensive palaeosol horizons. Eustasy and climate exerted the major allogenic controls on the aeolian sedimentation by affecting the sediment budget as well as influencing the sedimentation pattern.
Video analysis of acute injuries and referee decisions during the 24th Men's Handball World Championship 2015 in Qatar
Authors: Andersson S. H. , Cardinale M. , Whiteley R. , Popovic N. , Hansen C. , Lopez F. S. , Bere T. , Bahr R. , Myklebust G. 
Published: March 2018

Although handball is a contact sport with a high risk of acute match injuries, their mechanisms have not yet been investigated. We aimed to describe the mechanisms of acute match injuries in elite male handball and evaluate referee performance in injury situations. Based on injury surveillance from the 24th Men′s Handball World Championship 2015 in Qatar, injury situations and the referee decisions were identified on video footage. A total of 55 injury situations and 37 referee decisions were included for analysis. The injury situations were analyzed individually by five handball experts, followed by a consensus meeting. An expert referee panel performed individual blinded evaluation of the referee decisions, followed by an online consensus meeting. Injuries were evenly distributed among attackers (n = 29) and defenders (n = 26). The most frequent injury cause was contact trauma due to a tackle (n = 27). At the time of injury, attackers were most frequently performing a jump shot (n = 9), while defenders were completing a tackle (n = 10). Defenders most commonly tackled the throwing arm (n = 7) or toward the head/face region (n = 6) of injured attackers, while attackers most frequently hit injured defenders with the knee during jump shots (n = 5). Agreement between the referees and the expert panel was weak (kappa: 0.22, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.36), with substantially more lenient rule interpretation by the referees. Our results suggest that stricter refereeing and rule amendments should be considered to prevent acute match injuries in elite handball, especially in relation to tackling episodes when an attacker is performing a jump shot.
Preservice mathematics teachers' conceptions and enactments of modeling standards
Authors: Jung Hyunyi , Newton Jill A. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractMathematical modeling has been highlighted recently as Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) included Model with Mathematics as one of the Standards for Mathematical Practices (SMP) and a modeling strand in the high school standards. This common aspect of standards across most states in the United States intended by CCSSM authors and policy makers seems to mitigate the diverse notions of mathematical modeling. When we observed secondary mathematics preservice teachers (M‐PSTs) who learned about the SMP and used CCSSM modeling standards to plan and enact lessons, however, we noted differences in their interpretations and enactments of the standards, despite their attendance in the same course sections during a teacher preparation program. This result led us to investigate the ways the M‐PSTs understood modeling standards, which could provide insights into better preparing teachers to teach mathematical modeling. We present the contrasting ways in which M‐PSTs presented modeling related to their conceptions of mathematical modeling, choices of problems, and enactments over an academic year, connecting their practices to extant research. We consider this teaching and research experience as an opportunity to make significant changes in our instruction that may result in our students enhanced implementation of mathematical modeling.
B4GALNT2 and xenotransplantation: A newly appreciated xenogeneic antigen
Authors: Byrne Guerard , Ahmad‐Villiers Saadullah , Du Zeji , McGregor Christopher 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAnalysis of non‐Gal antibody induced after pig‐to‐baboon cardiac xenotransplantation identified the glycan produced by porcine beta‐1,4‐N‐acetyl‐galactosaminyltransferase 2 (B4GALNT2) as an immunogenic xenotransplantation antigen. The porcine B4GALNT2 enzyme is homologous to the human enzyme, which synthesizes the human SDa blood group antigen. Most humans produce low levels of anti‐SDa IgM which polyagglutinates red blood cells from rare individuals with high levels of SDa expression. The SDa glycan is also present on GM2 gangliosides. Clinical GM2 vaccination studies for melanoma patients suggest that a human antibody response to SDa can be induced. Expression of porcine B4GALNT2 in human HEK293 cells results in increased binding of anti‐SDa antibody and increased binding of Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), a lectin commonly used to detect SDa. In pigs, B4GALNT2 is expressed by vascular endothelial cells and endothelial cells from a wide variety of pig backgrounds stain with DBA, suggesting that porcine vascular expression of B4GALNT2 is not polymorphic. Mutations in B4GALNT2 have been engineered in mice and pigs. In both species, the B4GALNT2‐KO animals are apparently normal and no longer show evidence of SDa antigen expression. Pig tissues with a mutation in B4GALNT2, added to a background of alpha‐1,3‐galactosyltransferase deficient (GGTA1‐KO) and cytidine monophosphate‐N‐acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase deficient (CMAH‐KO), show reduced antibody binding, confirming the presence of B4GALNT2‐dependent antibodies in both humans and non‐human primates. Preclinical xenotransplantation using B4GALNT2‐deficient donors has recently been reported. Elimination of this source of immunogenic pig antigen should minimize acute injury by preformed anti‐pig antibody and eliminate an induced clinical immune response to this newly appreciated xenotransplantation antigen.
HYPOTHESIS TESTING FOR THE PARAMETERS OF LOG-LOGISTIC REGRESSION MODEL WITH LEFT-TRUNCATED AND RIGHT-CENSORED SURVIVAL DATA
Authors: Wan Mohd Adnan Wan Nur Atikah , Arasan Jayanthi 
Published: April 2018

Left-truncation and right-censoring (LTRC) arise naturally in lifetime data. Data may be left-truncated due to a limitation in the study design. Failure of a unit is observed only if it fails after a certain period. Usually, the units under study may not be followed until all of them have failed but the study has to be stopped at a certain time. This introduces the right censoring into the survival data. Log-logistic model is extended to accommodate the left-truncated and right-censored survival data. The bias, standard error (SE), and root mean square error (RMSE) of the parameter estimates are computed to evaluate the performance of the model at different sample sizes, censoring proportion (CP), and truncation level (TL). The results show that the SE of the parameter estimates increase as the truncation level (TL) and censoring proportion (CP) increase. Having low and high TL (5% and 15%) in the data, the graphs clearly show that the empirical power of both tests increases with the increase of TL for parameter and . The SE and RMSE also decrease as the sample size increases. Following that, power analysis is conducted via simulation to compare the performance of hypothesis tests based on the Wald and Likelihood Ratio (LR) for the parameters. The results clearly indicate that the Wald performs slightly better than the LR when dealing with the proposed model.
Femoral vascular conductance and peroneal muscle sympathetic nerve activity responses to acute epidural spinal cord stimulation in humans
Authors: Holwerda Seth W. , Holland Marshall T. , Reddy Chandan G. , Pierce Gary L. 
Published: March 2018

New Findings
What is the central question of this research?
Does acute spinal cord stimulation increase vascular conductance and decrease muscle sympathetic nerve activity in the lower limbs of humans?

What is the main finding and its importance?
Acute spinal cord stimulation led to a rapid rise in femoral vascular conductance, and peroneal muscle sympathetic nerve activity demonstrated a delayed reduction that was not associated with the initial increase in femoral vascular conductance. These findings suggest that neural mechanisms in addition to attenuated muscle sympathetic nerve activity might be involved in the initial increase in femoral vascular conductance during acute spinal cord stimulation.

AbstractClinical cases have indicated an increase in peripheral blood flow after continuous epidural spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and that reduced muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) might be a potential mechanism. However, no studies in humans have directly examined the effects of acute SCS (<60 min) on vascular conductance and MSNA. In study 1, we tested the hypothesis that acute SCS (<60 min) of the thoracic spine would lead to increased common femoral vascular conductance, but not brachial vascular conductance, in 11 patients who previously underwent surgical SCS implantation for management of neuropathic pain. Throughout 60 min of SCS, common femoral artery conductance was elevated and significantly different from brachial artery conductance [in millilitres per minute: 15 min, change (Δ) 26 ± 37 versus Δ−2 ± 19%; 30 min, Δ28 ± 45 versus Δ0 ± 26%; 45 min, Δ48 ± 43 versus Δ2 ± 21%; 60 min, Δ36 ± 61 versus Δ1 ± 24%; and 15 min post‐SCS, Δ51 ± 64 versus Δ6 ± 33%; P = 0.013]. A similar examination in a patient with cervical SCS revealed minimal changes in vascular conductance. In study 2, we examined whether acute SCS reduces peroneal MSNA in a subset of SCS patients (n = 5). The MSNA burst incidence in response to acute SCS gradually declined and was significantly reduced at 45 and 60 min of SCS (in bursts per 100 heart beats: 15 min, Δ−1 ± 12%; 30 min, Δ−14 ± 12%; 45 min, Δ−19 ± 16%; 60 min, Δ−24 ± 18%; and 15 min post‐SCS: Δ−11 ± 7%; P = 0.015). These data demonstrate that acute SCS rapidly increases femoral vascular conductance and reduces peroneal MSNA. The gradual reduction in peroneal MSNA observed during acute SCS suggests that neural mechanisms in addition to attenuated MSNA might be involved in the acute increase in femoral vascular conductance.