bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationship Between the Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate and Visceral Fat Thickness Based on Ultrasound in Patients With Obesity Who Have Normal Renal Function Without Hypertension or Diabetes
Authors: Kang Yaning , Huang Lizhen , Wang Rongrong , Xu Lei , Yang Yuanyuan , Cui Xiaoyuan 
Published: January 2019

ObjectivesTo investigate the relationship between visceral fat thickness measured by US and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients with obesity who did not have hypertension or diabetes and who had normal renal function.MethodsInclusion criteria included an estimated GFR of greater than 90 mL/min/1.73 m2, blood pressure lower than 120/80 mm Hg, and a fasting blood glucose level of less than 126 mg/dL. Patients were divided into groups with (body mass index ≥28 kg/m2) and without (body mass index <28 kg/m2) obesity. Subcutaneous and visceral fat thicknesses were measured with ultrasound.ResultsA total of 95 patients were enrolled with an age range of 25 to 58 years. The patients were divided into groups with (n = 48) and without obesity (n = 47); patients with obesity were further divided into subcutaneous obesity (n = 23) and visceral obesity (n = 25) groups. The estimated GFR in the group with obesity was significantly lower than that in the group without obesity (P = .037), and the estimated GFR in the group with visceral obesity was significantly lower than that in the group with subcutaneous obesity (P = .006). Moreover, the estimated GFR was negatively correlated with visceral fat thickness (V1:r = −0.750;P7 < 0.001;V2:r = −0.824;P < 0.001) but not correlated with subcutaneous fat thickness.ConclusionsUltrasound is an easy and accurate practical evaluation modality for measuring the thickness of fat. There was an inverse relationship between the estimated GFR and visceral fat thickness in patients with obesity who did not have hypertension or diabetes and who had normal renal function. This result suggests that as visceral fat increases, the estimated GFR may be reduced accordingly.
Schwarz problem for higher‐order complex partial differential equations in the upper half plane
Authors: Aksoy Ümit , Begehr Heinrich , Çelebi A. Okay 
Published: January 2019

AbstractLinear and nonlinear elliptic complex partial differential equations of higher‐order are considered under Schwarz conditions in the upper‐half plane. Firstly, using the integral representations for the solutions of the inhomogeneous polyanalytic equation with Schwarz conditions, a class of integral operators is introduced together with some of their properties. Then, these operators are used to transform the problem for linear equations into singular integral equations. In the case of nonlinear equations such a transformation yields a system of integro‐differential equations. Existence of the solutions of the relevant boundary value problems for linear and nonlinear equations are discussed via Fredholm theory and fixed point theorems, respectively.
Improved method for the intraoffice infrastructure optical fiber fault location the based on reflectometric analyses
Authors: Pereira João A. , Madureira Miguel , André Paulo S. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe monitoring of the optical fiber infrastructure, especially within the interoffice range, is an essential procedure for the maintenance of the quality of service. Many fiber monitoring techniques can be employed, nevertheless the majority of these methods carry unbearable costs and do not allow a permanent fiber fault examination. In this article, we propose a low‐cost monitoring technique for implementation in reconfigurable optical add‐drop multiplexer architectures. This method makes use of the optical payload itself to assess the integrity of the interoffice fiber section. Our results shown that, considering the broadcast of synchronous digital hierarchy signals, an operation range up to 6.5 km can achieved.
A revised time domain force identification method based on Bayesian formulation
Authors: Li Qiaofeng , Lu Qiuhai 
Published: January 2019

SummaryTime domain force identification problems are generally ill‐posed. Regularization techniques are widely adopted to well‐condition the problem. Traditional regularization such as Tikhonov regularization is mathematically equivalent to assuming a zero‐mean prior distribution on the unknown force. This assumption could be unreasonable for problems where notable trend components exist in force histories, such as vehicle‐bridge moving force identification and cutting tool force identification. In this paper, a revised method is proposed to address this issue. The proposed method formulates the force identification problem within the Bayesian framework. The trend components are considered as low‐order polynomials and as the mean term in the prior distribution of the force history. The joint maximum a posterior estimate of unknown variables is derived. The solution algorithm is given based on conditional maximization. A mass‐spring system and a cutting tool under forces containing various types of trend components and vehicle‐bridge systems under moving interaction forces are simulated to validate the proposed method.
Cost analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage and respiratory tract biopsies in the diagnosis and management of suspected invasive fungal infection in children with cancer or who have undergone stem cell transplant
Authors: Rossoff Jenna , Locke Margaret , Helenowski Irene B. , Batra Surabhi , Katz Ben Z. , Hijiya Nobuko 
Published: January 2019

AbstractBackgroundIdentification of an organism is the gold standard for the diagnosis of fungal infection; however, we have previously shown that invasive procedures infrequently lead to a change in management in children with cancer or who have undergone stem cell transplant with suspected respiratory tract invasive fungal infection (RT‐IFI). There is also a paucity of data on the cost of RT‐IFI in this population. We therefore compared the costs of RT‐IFI diagnosed based on CT scan alone versus those who underwent a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) or respiratory tract biopsy (RTB).ProcedureWe collected cost data on patients at a single center undergoing chemotherapy or who were post‐hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and were suspected of having RT‐IFI between 2007 and 2012. Cost data were included for 14 days from the day of their diagnostic CT scan or procedure.ResultsCost data were available for 76 patients. Thirty‐six patients were diagnosed with suspected RT‐IFI based on CT only, and 40 patients underwent BAL or RTB. Costs related to chest X‐rays (CXRs), inpatient/intensive care unit (ICU) beds, anesthesia, operating room (OR) time, and procedures were significantly higher in the BAL/RTB group versus CT scan group (all P < 0.01). Costs related to CT scans were significantly higher in the CT scan group (P = 0.0002). Overall costs were significantly higher for patients who underwent BAL or RTB versus CT scan only (P < 0.0001).ConclusionOur previous data showed that BAL and RTB infrequently led to a change in management in this population. We now demonstrate that this strategy is costly as well.
Characterization of natural killer cells expressing markers associated with maturity and cytotoxicity in children and young adults with sickle cell disease
Authors: Abraham Allistair A. , Lang Haili , Meier Emily Riehm , Nickel Robert S. , Dean Marcus , Lawal Nurah , Speller‐Brown Barbara , Wang Yunfei , Kean Leslie , Bollard Catherine M. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractBackgroundSickle cell disease (SCD) is increasingly recognized as a red blood cell disorder modulated by abnormally increased inflammation. We have previously shown that in patients with SCD not on a disease‐modifying therapy (hydroxyurea or chronic transfusions), natural killer (NK) cell numbers are increased. In the current study, we further investigated the NK cell function to determine if there was evidence of increased activation and cytotoxicity.ProcedureWe conducted a cross‐sectional study of 44 patients with HbSS/HbSβ0 thalassemia at steady state (hydroxyurea = 13, chronic transfusion = 11, no disease‐modifying therapy = 20) and 23 healthy controls. Using a fresh blood sample, NK immunophenotyping was performed as follows: NK cells (CD3−CD56+ lymphocytes) were evaluated for makers associated with activation (NKG2D, NKp30, NKp44, and CD69) and maturity (CD57, killer immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIR), and CD56dim). Degranulation and cytotoxicity assays were performed to evaluate NK cell function.ResultsPatients with SCD who were not on disease‐modifying therapy had a higher number of NK cells with an immunophenotype associated with increased cytotoxicity (NKG2D+, NKp30+, CD56dim+, and KIR+ NK cells) compared with healthy controls and patients on hydroxyurea. NK cells from SCD patients not on disease‐modifying therapy demonstrated significantly increased cytotoxicity (measured by assaying NK cell killing of the K562 cell line) compared with healthy controls (P = 0.005). Notably, NK cell cytotoxicity against K562 cells in the hydroxyurea or chronic transfusion patients was not significantly different from that in healthy controls.ConclusionSCD is associated with increased NK cell function as well as increased NK cell numbers, which appears to be normalized with disease‐modifying therapy.
The Ganzfeld experience—A stably inducible altered state of consciousness: Effects of different auditory homogenizations
Authors: Schmidt Timo T. , Prein Julia C. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractIn the Ganzfeld technique, the visual and auditory perceptual fields are homogenized. After a short exposure to completely unstructured sensory input, participants transit into an altered state of consciousness. Visual homogenization is typically accomplished by a combination of goggles and bright light; auditory homogenization is accomplished by the presentation of unstructured auditory noise via headphones. The induced state is phenomenologically similar to a transition state between wakefulness and sleep, characterized by alterations in attentiveness, perception, and awareness, as well as by a compressed sense of time. Due to these replicable features of the Ganzfeld‐induced state, it can be used within empirical research on the neuronal underpinnings of altered states phenomena. After a historic overview, here, we present data from a study on the stability of the subjectively experienced effects induced under different auditory homogenization conditions. In a fully randomized within‐subject design (n = 24), we tested for the effects of three different auditory noise conditions: (1) violet, (2) white, and (3) brown noise. The combination of a standardized psychometric assessment, ratings on subjective time perception, as well as open reports prove the Ganzfeld‐induced effects as being stable and effects within each participant as highly replicable, and therefore well suited for experimental purposes. Finally, the subjective experiences elucidated by the Ganzfeld technique are discussed within the framework of predictive coding and how changes in the interaction of top‐down and bottom‐up brain mechanisms could lead to the observed phenomenology.
Amniotic membrane and placental histopathological findings after open and fetoscopic prenatal neural tube defect repair
Authors: Sanz Cortes Magdalena , Castro Eumenia , Sharhan Dina , Torres Paola , Yepez Mayel , Espinoza Jimmy , Shamshirsaz Alireza A. , Nassr Ahmed A. , Popek Edwina , Whitehead William , Belfort Michael A. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractObjectivesTo describe and compare placental and amniotic histology in women who underwent a fetoscopic myelomeningocele repair to those who underwent an open hysterotomy myelomeningocele repair. Also, we intended to compare findings from both prenatal repair groups to age‐matched control pregnant patients.MethodsPlacental and membrane histopathology from 43 prenatally repaired spina bifida cases (17 fetoscopic and 26 open) and 18 healthy controls were retrospectively assessed. Quantitative assessment of histopathology included apoptosis count and maternal and fetal underperfusion scores. Qualitative assessment included the detection of pigmented macrophages and/or signs of placental/amniotic inflammation. Associations between the duration of surgery or the duration of CO2 insufflation and quantitative histological parameters were tested.ResultsFetoscopic surgery cases did not show significant differences in any of the studied parameters when compared against controls. No differences were detected either when compared with open repaired cases, except for lower proportion of pigmented laden macrophages in the fetoscopic group (11.8% vs 61.5%, P < 0.01). No associations between the duration of surgery or the duration of CO2 exposure and any of the quantitative histological parameters were detected.ConclusionsThese preliminary results support the lack of detrimental effects of the use of heated and humidified CO2 gas for uterine insufflation to fetal membranes and placenta.
Impact of breast milk on respiratory outcomes in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Authors: Kim Lydia Y. , McGrath‐Morrow Sharon A. , Collaco Joseph M. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe objective of our study was to examine whether outpatient respiratory morbidities in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) are influenced by the human milk consumption.MethodsCaregivers of subjects recruited from a BPD clinic completed questionnaires regarding breast milk intake and respiratory outcomes.ResultsOne‐hundred eighty‐eight caregivers completed the questionnaire. Of these, 173 (92.0%) reported that the child received some breast milk. Infants who received breast milk for fewer months were more likely to be non‐white, and have a lower household income, public insurance, and secondhand smoke exposure. A longer receipt of breast milk was associated with reduced likelihoods of emergency department visits, systemic steroid courses, and cough or chest congestion, and a trend towards a lower risk of re‐hospitalizations.ConclusionsLonger duration of breast milk intake was associated with markers of higher socio‐economic status, and reduced likelihood of acute and chronic respiratory morbidities among preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
Vitamin D3 in children with allergic asthma in clinical practice
Authors: Licari Amelia , Marseglia Gian Luigi , Ciprandi Giorgio 
Published: January 2019

AbstractAsthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder; type 2 inflammation is the most common asthma endotype in childhood. T regulatory cells are functionally and allergen‐specifically defective in allergic patients. Vitamin D3 exerts many functions on immune system, mainly concerning T regulatory function. Asthma control is the goal of the asthma treatment. We aimed to stratified a group of 76 consecutive children (50 males, 26 females, mean age 10.4 + 2.2 years) with allergic asthma and visited for the first time at a third‐level paediatric clinic during a 3‐month period, considering the Vitamin D3 serum levels. The three Vitamin D3 classes were not able to discriminate significant difference for all the parameters considered. In conclusion, Vitamin D3 serum assessment seems to be scarcely useful to pheno/endotyping allergic asthmatic children in clinical practice.
Predictors of sleep hypoxemia in children with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Isaiah Amal , Daher Amine , Sharma Preeti B. , Naqvi Kamal , Mitchell Ron B. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractObjectivesTo identify the determinants of nocturnal hypoxemia in children with CF using clinical parameters, polysomnography (PSG), and lung function.HypothesisSleep hypoxemia in children with CF is predicted by both apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and percent predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (pFEV1).DesignRetrospective case series.MethodsChildren aged 5‐18 years were included based on (i) a diagnosis of CF; and (ii) availability of concurrent PSG and pFEV1 data. The impact of (i) demographic and clinical parameters; and (ii) PSG and pFEV1, on the total sleep time spent with arterial oxygen saturation below 90% (TSpO2 < 90) was measured using regression analysis. P‐value <0.05 was considered significant.ResultsThe mean age was 11.6 years (95% confidence interval: 9.5, 13.1). Twenty of 35 (57%) were boys and the mean body mass index percentile was 42.1 (31.5, 52.6). The most common ethnicity was white (66%). OSA was diagnosed in 50%. Neither demographic predictors nor clinical variables predicted the severity of hypoxemia (R2 = 0.23, P = 0.09). While pFEV1 and PSG variables accounted for significant proportion of the overall variance in TSpO2 < 90 (R2 = 0.53, P < 0.001), pFEV1 was identified as the single best predictor of sleep hypoxemia. A pFEV1 cut‐off of 53% indicated a sensitivity of 0.80 and a specificity of 0.87 in predicting sleep hypoxemia.ConclusionspFEV1 is the best predictor of sleep hypoxemia in children with CF and referred for PSG. No demographic or clinical predictors of hypoxemia were identified in this population.
Brain‐machine interface of upper limb recovery in stroke patients rehabilitation: A systematic review
Authors: Carvalho Raquel , Dias Nuno , Cerqueira João José 
Published: January 2019

AbstractBackgroundTechnologies such as brain‐computer interfaces are able to guide mental practice, in particular motor imagery performance, to promote recovery in stroke patients, as a combined approach to conventional therapy.ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic review was to provide a status report regarding advances in brain‐computer interface, focusing in particular in upper limb motor recovery.MethodsThe databases PubMed, Scopus, and PEDro were systematically searched for articles published between January 2010 and December 2017. The selected studies were randomized controlled trials involving brain‐computer interface interventions in stroke patients, with upper limb assessment as primary outcome measures. Reviewers independently extracted data and assessed the methodological quality of the trials, using the PEDro methodologic rating scale.ResultsFrom 309 titles, we included nine studies with high quality (PEDro ≥ 6). We found that the most common interface used was non‐invasive electroencephalography, and the main neurofeedback, in stroke rehabilitation, was usually visual abstract or a combination with the control of an orthosis/robotic limb. Moreover, the Fugl–Meyer Assessment Scale was a major outcome measure in eight out of nine studies. In addition, the benefits of functional electric stimulation associated to an interface were found in three studies.ConclusionsNeurofeedback training with brain‐computer interface systems seem to promote clinical and neurophysiologic changes in stroke patients, in particular those with long‐term efficacy.
CUL4B/miR‐33b/C‐MYC axis promotes prostate cancer progression
Authors: Zhao Mingfeng , Qi Mei , Li Xinjun , Hu Jing , Zhang Jing , Jiao Meng , Bai Xinnuo , Peng Xijia , Han Bo 
Published: January 2019

BackgroundCullin 4B (CUL4B), a scaffold protein that assembles CRL4B ubiquitin ligase complexes, is overexpressed in many types of solid tumors and contributes to epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressors. However, its clinical significance and underlying molecular mechanisms in prostate cancer (PCa) remain unknown.MethodsThe clinical significance of CUL4B in PCa was characterized by in silico method. RT‐qPCR and Western blot were used to study the transcript and protein expression levels of CUL4B and C‐MYC. Bioinformatics tools, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assay were utilized to identify and characterize the microRNAs (miRNAs) regulated by CUL4B. The biological function of CUL4B and miR‐33b‐5p was evaluated by MTS, transwell, and wound healing assays, accordingly.ResultsCUL4B is significantly overexpressed in PCa tissues compared with benign prostatic tissues and its overexpression is correlated with poor prognosis. CUL4B promotes proliferation and aggressiveness of PCa cells in vitro. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that CUL4B upregulates the expression of C‐MYC at post‐transcriptional level through epigenetic silencing of miR‐33b‐5p. Importantly, CUL4B‐induced oncogenic activity in PCa by targeting C‐MYC is repressed by miR‐33b‐5p.ConclusionsOur results suggested a novel CUL4B/miR‐33b/C‐MYC axis implicated in PCa cell growth and progression. This might provide novel insight into how CUL4B contributed to PCa aggressiveness and progression.
The interplay between viruses and TRIM family proteins
Authors: Khan Ramisha , Khan Amna , Ali Amjad , Idrees Muhammad 
Published: January 2019

SummaryNovel therapeutic options are urgently needed to improve the global treatment of viral infections. Tripartite motif (TRIM) family proteins are involved in various biological and cellular functions including differentiation, development, proliferation, oncogenesis, innate immunity, and viral autophagy. Various TRIM proteins show antiviral properties against different viral infections and are now transitioning from ubiquitin proteins to an efficient and emerging therapeutic class of proteins. TRIM proteins combat viruses by targeting them at pre/post transcription levels. This review summarizes the comprehensive roles of different TRIM proteins along with their expression systems and their applications towards antiviral therapeutics.
TrackerBots: Autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle for real‐time localization and tracking of multiple radio‐tagged animals
Authors: Nguyen Hoa Van , Chesser Michael , Koh Lian Pin , Rezatofighi S. Hamid , Ranasinghe Damith C. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractAutonomous aerial robots provide new possibilities to study the habitats and behaviors of endangered species through the efficient gathering of location information at temporal and spatial granularities not possible with traditional manual survey methods. We present a novel autonomous aerial vehicle system—TrackerBots—to track and localize multiple radio‐tagged animals. The simplicity of measuring the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) values of very high frequency (VHF) radio‐collars commonly used in the field is exploited to realize a low‐cost and lightweight tracking platform suitable for integration with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Due to uncertainty and the nonlinearity of the system based on RSSI measurements, our tracking and planning approaches integrate a particle filter for tracking and localizing and a partially observable Markov decision process for dynamic path planning. This approach allows autonomous navigation of a UAV in a direction of maximum information gain to locate multiple mobile animals and reduce exploration time and, consequently, conserve on‐board battery power. We also employ the concept of search termination criteria to maximize the number of located animals within power constraints of the aerial system. We validated our real‐time and online approach through both extensive simulations and field experiments with five VHF radio‐tags on a grassland plain.