bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pattern of cochlear obliteration after vestibular Schwannoma resection according to surgical approach
Authors: Feng Yening , Lane John I. , Lohse Christine M. , Carlson Matthew L. 
Published: March 2019

Objectives/HypothesisTo investigate the prevalence and course of cochlear obliteration according to microsurgical approach to inform clinical decision making regarding optimal timing of cochlear implantation.Study DesignRetrospective radiologic review and chart review.MethodsPatients who underwent microsurgical resection of vestibular schwannoma (VS) with a minimum of two available postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were analyzed. The prevalence and timing of cochlear and labyrinthine obliteration was classified using relevant MRI sequences.ResultsMRI studies in 60 patients were analyzed: 20 translabyrinthine (TL), 20 retrosigmoid, and 20 middle fossa (MF) cases. The first and last postoperative MRI was obtained a median of 3.4 months (interquartile range (IQR), 3.0–3.7 months) and 35 months (IQR, 27–83 months) after surgery, respectively. At the time of the first postoperative MRI, 21 (35%) patients had partial basal turn obliteration, and none of the patients had complete basal turn obliteration. At the time of the last postoperative MRI, six (10%) patients had partial basal turn obliteration and 17 (28%) patients had complete basal turn obliteration. The pattern of partial or complete basal turn obliteration differed significantly among all three surgical approaches (P < .001). Specifically, the risk of partial or complete obliteration of the basal turn was highest in the TL cohort and lowest in the MF cohort.ConclusionsThe prevalence and timing of cochlear obliteration after VS microsurgery varies significantly according to surgical approach. The risk of early and complete obliteration is highest in the TL group and lowest in the MF cohort. These data may inform clinical decision making regarding optimal timing of cochlear implantation in patients with advanced hearing loss after microsurgical resection.Level of Evidence4 Laryngoscope, 130:474–481, 2020
Prediction of Alcohol Relapse Among Liver Transplant Candidates With Less Than 6 Months of Abstinence Using the High‐Risk Alcoholism Relapse Score
Authors: Lombardo‐Quezada Julissa , Colmenero Jordi , López‐Pelayo Hugo , Gavotti Carolina , Lopez Ana , Crespo Gonzalo , Lopez Eva , Gual Antoni , Lligoña Anna , Navasa Miquel 
Published: March 2019

The selection of liver transplantation (LT) candidates with alcohol‐use disorder (AUD) is influenced by the risk of alcohol relapse (AR) after LT. We aimed to investigate the risk factors of AR after LT and its impact on graft and recipient outcomes. A retrospective study was conducted that included all consecutive patients with AUD undergoing LT from January 2004 to April 2016 (n = 309), excluding patients with alcoholic hepatitis. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for AR were analyzed by multinomial logistic regression. Cox regression with time‐dependent covariates was used to analyze patient survival and graft cirrhosis. There were 70 (23%) patients who presented AR (median follow‐up, 68 months), most of them (n = 44, 63%) presenting heavy AR. The probability of heavy AR was 2.3%, 7.5%, 12%, and 29% at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years after LT, respectively. The independent risk factors for heavy AR included a High‐Risk Alcoholism Relapse (HRAR) score ≥3 (OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.02‐5.56; P = 0.04) and the duration of abstinence (months) before LT (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.66‐0.98; P = 0.03). In recipients with <6 months of abstinence before LT, the probability of heavy AR after LT was higher in patients with an HRAR score ≥3 than in those with an HRAR score <3 (20%, 36.7%, and 47% versus 6.8%, 12.4%, and 27% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively; log‐rank 0.013). The risk of graft cirrhosis was increased in patients with heavy AR (hazard ratio, 3.44; 95% CI, 1.58‐7.57; P = 0.002) compared with nonrelapsers, with no differences in patient survival. In conclusion, the HRAR score is helpful in identifying the risk of harmful AR after LT in candidates with <6 months of alcohol abstinence without alcoholic hepatitis. These patients could benefit from a longterm integrative patient‐centered approach after LT until lifestyle changes are implemented.
Engineering Lignocellulose Fibers with Higher Thermal Stability through Natural Fiber Welding
Authors: Durkin David P. , Frank Benjamin P. , Haverhals Luke M. , Howard Fairbrother D. , De Long Hugh C. , Trulove Paul C. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis study reveals how natural fiber welding (NFW) can be used to engineer biopolymer materials with improved thermal stability. First, it is shown how NFW without binders improves lignocellulose yarn thermal stability by ≈17 °C, primarily by condensing microfibril structure. Next, silanized‐cellulose nanofibrils (Si‐CNFs) are developed as NFW binders; this silanization process alters CNF physical and thermal properties. During pyrolysis, SixOynetworks form, which delay CNF decomposition (up to 37 °C), slow cellulose mass loss rates (up to 89%), and can enhance char yield more than twofold. When used as NFW binders, Si‐CNFs increase lignocellulose yarn thermal stability (up to 17 °C) proportional to siloxane amount, and can reduce cellulose mass loss rates (≈25% compared to welding without binder). These exciting results highlight the potential of NFW as a green‐engineering process to transform natural fibers into more thermally stable, biocomposite textile yarns.
Prodromal Parkinson's Disease: The Decade Past, the Decade to Come
Authors: Postuma Ronald B. , Berg Daniela 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe past decade has seen a dramatic expansion of the field of prodromal PD. Ten years ago, there were only six known prodromal markers of disease, none of which had more than two studies documenting diagnostic value. We now have at least 16 markers, with as many as 10 prospective studies for a single marker. This review summarizes the major advances over the last decade and speculates about the advances we will see in the decade to come. The most notable advances over the last decade came through the study of high‐risk cohorts (REM sleep behavior disorder and later genetic and autonomic cohorts), the generation of more representative population‐based cohorts for studying prodromal PD, major advances in neuroimaging of early disease stages, the emerging likelihood that tissue biopsy will be able to diagnose prodromal PD, and the coalescence of prodromal markers into discrete criteria. As the next decade dawns, we await increasing precision of sensitivity and specificity estimates of known markers, the discovery of new biomarkers of prodromal disease, improvements in diagnosis using combined methods/criteria (with increasing recognition of prodromal PD as one stage of the full PD spectrum), and ultimately the development of neuroprotective therapy that can be provided at the earliest stages of disease. © 2019 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Mutations in the mitochondrial tryptophanyl‐tRNA synthetase cause growth retardation and progressive leukoencephalopathy
Authors: Maffezzini Camilla , Laine Isabelle , Dallabona Cristina , Clemente Paula , Calvo‐Garrido Javier , Wibom Rolf , Naess Karin , Barbaro Michela , Falk Anna , Donnini Claudia , Freyer Christoph , Wredenberg Anna , Wedell Anna 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundMutations in mitochondrial aminoacyl tRNA synthetases form a subgroup of mitochondrial disorders often only perturbing brain function by affecting mitochondrial translation. Here we report two siblings with mitochondrial disease, due to compound heterozygous mutations in the mitochondrial tryptophanyl‐tRNA synthetase (WARS2) gene, presenting with severe neurological symptoms but normal mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle biopsies and cultured skin fibroblasts.MethodsWhole exome sequencing on genomic DNA samples from both subjects and their parents identified two compound heterozygous variants c.833T>G (p.Val278Gly) and c.938A>T (p.Lys313Met) in the WARS2 gene as potential disease‐causing variants. We generated patient‐derived neuroepithelial stem cells and modeled the disease in yeast and Drosophila melanogaster to confirm pathogenicity.ResultsBiochemical analysis of patient‐derived neuroepithelial stem cells revealed a mild combined complex I and IV defect, while modeling the disease in yeast demonstrated that the reported aminoacylation defect severely affects respiration and viability. Furthermore, silencing of wild type WARS2 in Drosophila melanogaster showed that a partial defect in aminoacylation is enough to cause lethality.ConclusionsOur results establish the identified WARS2 variants as disease‐causing and highlight the benefit of including human neuronal models, when investigating mutations specifically affecting the nervous system.
Co‐occurrence of ATXN3 and ATXN2 repeat expansions in Chinese ataxia patients with slow saccades
Authors: Wu Chao , Cai Qiong , You Huajing , Zhou Xiangxue , Chen Dingbang , Mo Guiling , Li Xunhua 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe presence of more than one polyQ‐related gene within a single individual is a rare incidence, which may provide the potential opportunity to study the combined effects of these spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) genes.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed genetic data from 112 SCA3 probands and found Patient 1 harbored expanded ATXN2 allele (33 repeats) and intermediate TBP allele (41 repeats), and Patient 2 with intermediate ATXN2 allele (32 repeats). Detailed clinical and oculomotor performances were investigated. The age at onset and oculomotor parameters of both patients were compared with matched pure SCA3 groups controlling either disease severity or CAG repeats.ResultsMost of the clinical phenotypes and oculomotor characteristics of these two patients were common to typical SCA3 patients. Compared to pure SCA3 groups controlling disease severity, mild reduced horizontal saccade velocity could be detected in both patients. However, mild expansions of the ATXN2 allele seemed to have no influence on the age at onset of Patient 1 but might have a mild impact on Patient 2.ConclusionOur study provides supporting evidence that mild expansions of ATXN2 may have modifying effects on SCA3 phenotype. Larger control series and longitudinal data are warranted to confirm our results.
Dietary Palmitoleic Acid Attenuates Atherosclerosis Progression and Hyperlipidemia in Low‐Density Lipoprotein Receptor‐Deficient Mice
Authors: Yang Zhi‐Hong , Pryor Milton , Noguchi Audrey , Sampson Maureen , Johnson Brittany , Pryor Matthew , Donkor Kwame , Amar Marcelo , Remaley Alan T. 
Published: March 2019

ScopePalmitoleic acid (palmitoleate; C16:1 n‐7), an omega‐7 monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) found in plants and marine sources, has been shown to favorably modulate lipid and glucose metabolism. However, its impact on atherosclerosis has not been examined in detail.Methods and ResultsLDL receptor knock out (LDLR‐KO) mice are fed a Western diet supplemented with 5% (w/w) palmitoleate concentrate, oleic‐rich olive oil, or none (control) for 12 weeks. Dietary palmitoleate increases hepatic C16:1 levels, improves plasma and hepatic lipid/lipoprotein profiles (≈40% decrease in triglycerides), and reduces the atherosclerotic plaque area by ≈45% compared with control or olive oil group (p < 0.05). These favorable changes are accompanied by the downregulation of key genes, such as Srebp1c, Scd1, Il‐1β, and Tnfα. ApoB‐depleted plasma from mice fed palmitoleate has increased cholesterol efflux capacity by 20% from ABCA1‐expressing cells (p < 0.05). A beneficial effect of palmitoleate on glucose metabolism (54% decreased in HOMA‐IR, p < 0.05) is also observed.ConclusionsDietary‐supplemented palmitoleate reduces atherosclerosis development in LDLR‐KO mice, and is associated with improvement of lipid and glucose metabolism and favorable changes in regulatory genes involved in lipogenesis and inflammation. These findings imply the potential role of dietary palmitoleate in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and diet‐induced metabolic disorders.
Technical Note: Anti‐phase microwave illumination‐based thermoacoustic tomography of in vivo human finger joints
Authors: Chi Zihui , Huang Lin , Ge Shaoli , Jiang Huabei 
Published: March 2019

PurposeThermoacoustic tomography (TAT) has been studied to image joints. While several joint tissues could be thermoacoustically imaged, tendons and bone could not be recovered completely or clearly. The purpose of this study was to overcome this limitation.MethodsWe developed a novel TAT system based on anti‐phase microwave illumination method to image the proximal interphalangeal joint and middle phalanx of a right middle finger from a healthy volunteer. The performance of this new system for imaging joints and tendons was compared with that by in‐phase microwave illumination and a conventional pyramidal horn antenna.ResultsAnti‐phase microwave illumination can produce relatively homogeneous electric (E)‐Field distributions inside the joint tissues. The homogeneous E‐Field distributions can enhance the detectability of flexor tendon and extensor tendon. Anti‐phase microwave illumination could image the flexor tendon, and extensor tendon and bone, which were not clearly imaged by the in‐phase microwave illumination or by the horn antenna. The images generated by the in‐phase microwave illumination and pyramidal horn antenna were almost identical in terms of the tissue types they imaged.ConclusionsAnti‐phase illumination can overcome the limitation associated with the conventional TAT by adding the ability of completely delineating tendons and bone in the joints. This study paves the way for us to continue the study and to validate its utility in detection of joint diseases.
Growth Disparity in Sympatric Kokanee Breeding Groups
Authors: Klein Zachary B , Quist Michael C , Dux Andrew M , Corsi Matthew P 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
Growth is arguably the most important dynamic rate function due to its interaction with survival and recruitment. As such, understanding the mechanisms underlying growth is a primary focus of fisheries research. Kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka in Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho, provide an interesting case study for investigating the factors that influence growth. Early-run and late-run kokanee occur in Lake Pend Oreille, but early-run fish generally grow faster than late-run fish. The observed growth disparity between early- and late-run fish could be due to genetic differences between the two groups. Conversely, a common hatchery practice of slowing growth by reducing feed has been hypothesized to elicit a compensatory growth response in early-run fish and to explain the size difference between breeding groups. Using two different experiments, we tested the hypotheses that (1) early-run kokanee are genetically disposed to grow faster than late-run kokanee at identical water temperatures; and (2) feed restriction elicits a compensatory growth response in early-run kokanee that explains the observed size difference between breeding groups. Estimates of mean FL, weight, Fulton's condition factor (K), and specific growth rate (SGR) were not significantly different (P ≥ 0.05) between early-run and late-run fish in the first experiment. However, water temperature was positively related to mean FL, weight, K, and SGR for both breeding groups. Fish that were subjected to food deprivation exhibited an increased growth rate and obtained weights similar to those of control fish. Overall, our results suggest that early- and late-run fish have similar growth potential, but certain hatchery practices likely provide early-run fish with an initial advantage in growth, size, or both.
Optimal control policies for an inventory system with commitment lead time
Authors: Ahmadi Taher , Atan Zümbül , de Kok Ton , Adan Ivo 
Published: March 2019

AbstractWe consider a firm which faces a Poisson customer demand and uses a base‐stock policy to replenish its inventories from an outside supplier with a fixed lead time. The firm can use a preorder strategy which allows the customers to place their orders before their actual need. The time from a customer's order until the date a product is actually needed is called commitment lead time. The firm pays a commitment cost which is strictly increasing and convex in the length of the commitment lead time. For such a system, we prove the optimality of bang‐bang and all‐or‐nothing policies for the commitment lead time and the base‐stock policy, respectively. We study the case where the commitment cost is linear in the length of the commitment lead time in detail. We show that there exists a unit commitment cost threshold which dictates the optimality of either a buy‐to‐order (BTO) or a buy‐to‐stock strategy. The unit commitment cost threshold is increasing in the unit holding and backordering costs and decreasing in the mean lead time demand. We determine the conditions on the unit commitment cost for profitability of the BTO strategy and study the case with a compound Poisson customer demand.
Solving the general joint block diagonalization problem via linearly independent eigenvectors of a matrix polynomial
Authors: Cai Yunfeng , Cheng Guanghui , Shi Decai 
Published: March 2019

SummaryIn this paper, we consider the exact/approximate general joint block diagonalization (GJBD) problem of a matrix set
( p ≥ 1), where a nonsingular matrix W (often referred to as a diagonalizer) needs to be found such that the matrices W HAiW 's are all exactly/approximately block‐diagonal matrices with as many diagonal blocks as possible. We show that the diagonalizer of the exact GJBD problem can be given by W = [x1,x2,…,xn]Π, where Π is a permutation matrix and xi's are eigenvectors of the matrix polynomial
, satisfying that [x1,x2,…,xn] is nonsingular and where the geometric multiplicity of each λi corresponding with xi is equal to 1. In addition, the equivalence of all solutions to the exact GJBD problem is established. Moreover, a theoretical proof is given to show why the approximate GJBD problem can be solved similarly to the exact GJBD problem. Based on the theoretical results, a three‐stage method is proposed, and numerical results show the merits of the method.
Factors associated with patients’ and companions’ satisfaction with a hospital emergency department: A descriptive, cross‐sectional study
Authors: Fontova-Almató Aurora , Suñer‐Soler Rosa , Juvinyà‐Canal Dolors 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAimThe aim was to study the level of satisfaction with an emergency department and to identify the factors associated with satisfaction.DesignThis research consisted of a descriptive, cross‐sectional study.MethodsThe study population was composed of patients and companions who visited the emergency department during a three‐month period. The patients were selected randomly from the register of visits to the emergency department during the period of study. Sociodemographic variables and variables related to the attention received were studied through questionnaires (response rate 33%).ResultsOlder age was associated with greater satisfaction (p = 0.002), as was female sex (p = 0.013) and greater optimism (p < 0.001). Greater control of pain was a factor associated with satisfaction (p = 0.033), as was the perception of a shorter waiting time before the medical visit (p < 0.001).
Dendrimer‐Encapsulated Pd Nanoparticles, Immobilized in Silica Pores, as Catalysts for Selective Hydrogenation of Unsaturated Compounds
Authors: Karakanov Edward A. , Zolotukhina Anna V. , Ivanov Andrey O. , Maximov Anton L. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractHeterogeneous Pd‐containing nanocatalysts, based on poly (propylene imine) dendrimers immobilized in silica pores and networks, obtained by co‐hydrolysis in situ, have been synthesized and examined in the hydrogenation of various unsaturated compounds. The catalyst activity and selectivity were found to strongly depend on the carrier structure as well as on the substrate electron and geometric features. Thus, mesoporous catalyst, synthesized in presence of both polymeric template and tetraethoxysilane, revealed the maximum activity in the hydrogenation of various styrenes, including bulky and rigid stilbene and its isomers, reaching TOF values of about 230000 h−1. Other mesoporous catalyst, synthesized in the presence of polymeric template, but without addition of Si(OEt)4, provided the trans‐cyclooctene formation with the selectivity of 90–95 %, appearing as similar to homogeneous dendrimer‐based catalysts. Microporous catalyst, obtained only on the presence of Si(OEt)4, while dendrimer molecules acting as both anchored ligands and template, demonstrated the maximum activity in the hydrogenation of terminal linear alkynes and conjugated dienes, reaching TOF values up to 400000 h−1. Herein the total selectivity on alkene in the case of terminal alkynes and conjugated dienes reached 95–99 % even at hydrogen pressure of 30 atm. The catalysts synthesized can be easily isolated from reaction products and recycled without significant loss of activity.
Tips and Tricks for the Surface Engineering of Well‐Ordered Morphologically Driven Silver‐Based Nanomaterials
Authors: Nisticò Roberto , Rivolo Paola , Giorgis Fabrizio 
Published: March 2019

AbstractParticularly‐shaped silver nanostructures are successfully applied in many scientific fields, such as nanotechnology, catalysis, (nano)engineering, optoelectronics, and sensing. In recent years, the production of shape‐controlled silver‐based nanostructures and the knowledge around this topic has grown significantly. Hence, on the basis of the most recent results reported in the literature, a critical analysis around the driving forces behind the synthesis of such nanostructures are proposed herein, pointing out the important role of surface‐regulating agents in driving crystalline growth by favoring (or opposing) development along specific directions. Additionally, growth mechanisms of the different morphologies considered here are discussed in depth, and critical points highlighted.
Pressure‐Induced Formation of Quaternary Compound and In−N Distribution in InGaAsN Zincblende from Ab Initio Calculation
Authors: Pluengphon Prayoonsak , Wanarattikan Pornsiri , Bovornratanaraks Thiti , Inceesungvorn Burapat 
Published: March 2019

AbstractWe present the effects of In−N distribution and high pressure on the zincblende phase (0–5 GPa) of InxGa1−xAs0.963N0.037 (x=0.074, 0.111 and 0.148). Structural, electronic, and optical properties are analyzed, and it is found that non‐isotropic distribution of In−N (type C) possesses the minimum free energy for the InGaAsN conventional cell system. An increasing indium content reduces the formation enthalpy of InGaAsN. The formation enthalpy, conduction band minimum, strength of covalent bonds, and electron density differences in free space of InGaAsN are decreased under high‐pressure conditions. The dielectric performance and static permittivity of InGaAsN are lower than that of GaAs, for which the dielectric performance transforms to conductor performance at high frequency. The optimum photoabsorption coefficient is found at the composition of In0.111Ga0.889As0.963N0.037 (3In−N), which very well relates to the literature.