bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Postmortem Study Exploring Distribution and Patterns of Intracranial Artery Calcification
Authors: Yang Wen-Jie , Zheng Lu , Wu Xiao-Hong , Huang Zhong-Qing , Niu Chun-Bo , Zhao Hai-Lu , Leung Thomas Wai-Hong , Wong Lawrence Ka-Sing , Chen Xiang-Yan 
Published: October 2018

Background and Purpose—
Intracranial artery calcification detected by computed tomography is associated with ischemic stroke as an indicator of intracranial atherosclerosis. However, little is known about its histopathology. This study aimed to explore the intracranial calcification patterns and their associations with atherosclerotic plaques.

Methods—
We recruited 32 adult autopsy cases to assess the calcification patterns and distributions in the middle cerebral artery, vertebral artery, and basilar artery. The relationships of calcification patterns with plaque phenotype and luminal stenosis were evaluated. The calcification patterns on computed tomography were correlated with that on histology.

Results—

Visible calcifications were detected within 37 (39%) segments, including 25 segments with intimal calcification, 6 segments with internal elastic lamina calcification, 3 segments with adventitial calcification, and 3 segments with concurrent calcification. Calcification occurred more often in the vertebral artery (51%), followed by the middle cerebral artery (35%) and basilar artery (14%;
P
<0.01 for vertebral artery versus basilar artery). Internal elastic lamina calcification was predominantly detected in the vertebral artery (7/8, 88%). All of the 27 (100%) intimal calcifications were present in the progressive atherosclerotic lesions (
P
<0.001), whereas only 3/8 (38%) internal elastic lamina calcifications and 4/6 (67%) adventitial calcifications were associated with progressive plaques. Arteries with intimal calcification had more severe luminal stenosis than those without (46% versus 21%;
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—
Our histological findings indicate that the presence of intracranial artery calcification has 3 patterns, including intimal, internal elastic lamina, and adventitial calcifications. But only intimal calcification is related with progressive atherosclerotic lesions, indicative of a proxy for intracranial atherosclerosis.
Characterisation of two Chinese native Hemicriconemoides species (Nematoda: Criconematidae) with updated descriptions of H. chitwoodi Esser, 1960 and Criconemoides myungsugae Choi & Geraert, 1975
Authors: Maria Munawar , Cai Ruihang , Castillo Pablo , Cantalapiedra-Navarrete Carolina , Zheng Jingwu 
Published: October 2018

SummaryPopulations ofHemicriconemoides chitwoodi,H. fujianensis,H. parasinensis, andCriconemoides myungsugaeisolated in China from the rhizosphere soil of woody perennials were characterised molecularly, important morphological details being elucidated by SEM observations. The morphometric data of the Chinese populations were compared with all previously reported populations. The SEM observations ofen faceviews indicated thatH. chitwoodiandH. parasinensishave lip patterns belonging to type 1 and phylogenetically both species clustered with otherHemicriconemoidesspecies that showed the same kind of lip pattern. On the other hand,H. fujianensisshowed a lip pattern belonging to type 2 and phylogenetically appears basal to the above-mentioned clade. SEM observation ofC. myungsugaeshowed that the first lip annulus forms a non-projecting uninterrupted disc and the labial annulus is a rectangular shape with slight dorsal and ventral indentations. Phylogenetic relationships amongCriconemoidesspp. are apparently not well resolved. The present study provides updated morphological descriptions, molecular diagnostics and phylogenetic relationships ofH. chitwoodi,H. fujianensis,H. parasinensis, andC. myungsugae, the last species being the first report from China.
Experimental evidence for crustacean zooplankton grazing activity on mixotrophic ciliates
Authors: De Los Rios Patricio , Woelfl Stefan , Soto Cristian 
Published: October 2018

Abstract
With their ultraoligotrophic status, the Chilean North Patagonian lakes have mixotrophic ciliates in their pelagic environments as producers, whereas the primary consumers are crustaceans that are low in abundance and species numbers. The aim of the present study was to determine the potential grazer role of mixotrophic ciliates on crustacean zooplankton collected in a lake without mixotrophic ciliates. Three experiments were conducted; one had a control with mixotrophic ciliates and an experimental treatment including the copepod Boeckella gracilipes obtained from Caburgua lake, whereas the second and third experiments had a control without zooplankton, and three treatments with the addition of Daphnia pulex and Mesocyclops araucanus, and a third treatment with equal amounts of both species. The results revealed grazing effects on the mixotrophic ciliates in the experimental treatments. This finding supports the evidence from the field and experiments suggesting that, in the transition from oligotrophy to mesotrophy with consequent changes in zooplankton, species number and abundance of mixotrophic ciliates decrease in their abundance.
An Intraseasonal Mode of Atmospheric Variability Relevant to the U.S. Hydroclimate in Boreal Summer: Dynamic Origin and East Asia Connection
Authors: Zhao Siyu , Deng Yi , Black Robert X. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIntraseasonal modes of atmospheric variability over the Northern Hemisphere (NH) midlatitudes in boreal summer are identified via an empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of the daily 10–90-day bandpass-filtered 250-hPa streamfunction for the period of 1950–2016. The first two EOF modes are characterized, respectively, by (i) a single-signed streamfunction anomaly that extends across the NH and (ii) a regional dipole structure with centers over the Aleutian Islands and northeastern Pacific. The third EOF mode (EOF-3) is a quasi-stationary wave train over the Pacific–North American sector with an equivalent barotropic structure in the vertical. EOF-3 is associated with a northwest–southeast oriented anomalous precipitation dipole over the United States. A nonmodal instability analysis of the boreal summer climatological flow in terms of the 250-hPa streamfunction reveals that one of the top “optimal mode” disturbances mimicking the EOF-3 structure grows from an initial precursor disturbance over East Asia through extracting kinetic energy from background flow and attains its maximum amplitude in around nine days. An additional lag regression analysis illustrates that anomalous latent heating associated with cloud and precipitation formation over East Asia is responsible for generating the precursor disturbance for the EOF-3-like optimal mode. This result suggests the existence of an important connection between the hydrological cycles of East Asia and North America, which is dynamically intrinsic to the boreal summer upper-tropospheric flow. Knowledge of such a connection will help us better understand and model hydroclimate variability over these two continents.
Creating Synthetic Radar Imagery Using Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Veillette Mark S. , Hassey Eric P. , Mattioli Christopher J. , Iskenderian Haig , Lamey Patrick M. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIn this work deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are shown to be an effective model for fusing heterogeneous geospatial data to create radar-like analyses of precipitation intensity (i.e., synthetic radar). The CNN trained in this work has a directed acyclic graph (DAG) structure that takes inputs from multiple data sources with varying spatial resolutions. These data sources include geostationary satellite (1-km visible and four 4-km infrared bands), lightning flash density from Earth Network’s Total Lightning Network, and numerical model data from NOAA’s 13-km Rapid Refresh model. A regression is performed in the final layer of the network using NEXRAD-derived data mapped onto a 1-km grid as a target variable. The outputs of the CNN are fused with analyses from NEXRAD to create seamless radar mosaics that extend to offshore sectors and beyond. The model is calibrated and validated using both NEXRAD and spaceborne radar from NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission’s Core Observatory satellite. The advantages over a random forest–based approach used in previous works are discussed.
Probabilistic Precipitation Forecast Postprocessing Using Quantile Mapping and Rank-Weighted Best-Member Dressing
Authors: Hamill Thomas M. , Scheuerer Michael 
Published: October 2018

Abstract
Hamill et al. described a multimodel ensemble precipitation postprocessing algorithm that is used operationally by the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS). This article describes further changes that produce improved, reliable, and skillful probabilistic quantitative precipitation forecasts (PQPFs) for single or multimodel prediction systems. For multimodel systems, final probabilities are produced through the linear combination of PQPFs from the constituent models. The new methodology is applied to each prediction system. Prior to adjustment of the forecasts, parametric cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) of model and analyzed climatologies are generated using the previous 60 days’ forecasts and analyses and supplemental locations. The CDFs, which can be stored with minimal disk space, are then used for quantile mapping to correct state-dependent bias for each member. In this stage, the ensemble is also enlarged using a stencil of forecast values from the 5 × 5 surrounding grid points. Different weights and dressing distributions are assigned to the sorted, quantile-mapped members, with generally larger weights for outlying members and broader dressing distributions for members with heavier precipitation. Probability distributions are generated from the weighted sum of the dressing distributions. The NWS Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS), the Canadian Meteorological Centre (CMC) global ensemble, and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) ensemble forecast data are postprocessed for April–June 2016. Single prediction system postprocessed forecasts are generally reliable and skillful. Multimodel PQPFs are roughly as skillful as the ECMWF system alone. Postprocessed guidance was generally more skillful than guidance using the Gamma distribution approach of Scheuerer and Hamill, with coefficients generated from data pooled across the United States.
Prophylactic uterine artery embolization in second-trimester pregnancy termination with complete placenta previa
Authors: Wang Yinfeng , Hu Changchang , Pan Ningpin , Chen Chaolu , Wu Ruijin 
Published: October 2018

Objective This study was performed to assess whether prophylactic uterine artery embolization (UAE) is beneficial for second-trimester abortion with complete placenta previa (CPP). Methods Patients with CPP who underwent second-trimester pregnancy termination by labor induction with or without UAE from January 2010 to January 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. In total, 25 patients were eligible for analysis. The primary outcomes were the abortion success rate and bleeding volume, and the secondary outcomes were the induction-to-abortion time, length of hospital stay, and complications. Results CPP occurred in all 25 patients. Fifteen patients underwent prophylactic UAE (UAE group) and 10 did not (control group). Abortion was successful in 13 of 15 (86.7%) women in the UAE group and in 9 of 10 (90.0%) women in the control group. There was no significant difference in the bleeding volume or induction-to-abortion time between the two groups. The hospital stay was longer and pyrexia was more common in the UAE than control group. Conclusion Prophylactic UAE did not markedly improve the outcomes of second-trimester abortion in patients with CPP. Conversely, it may increase the risk of complications and prolong the hospital stay.
Upregulation of Spondin-2 protein expression correlates with poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Feng Ying , Hu Yilin , Mao Qinsheng , Guo Yibing , Liu Yifei , Xue Wanjiang , Cheng Shuqun 
Published: October 2018

Objective The aim of this study was to measure the extracellular matrix protein Spondin-2 (SPON2) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and to determine its potential value as a prognostic indicator by assessing its correlation with clinicopathological variables and survival. Methods SPON2 mRNA expression was assessed in 20 matched pairs of HCC and non-cancerous liver tissues by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. SPON2 protein expression was determined in 107 matched pairs of HCC and normal liver tissue by immunohistochemical staining of tissue microarrays. Results Analysis of patient tissues and Oncomine datasets showed that SPON2 mRNA and SPON2 protein expression were both significantly upregulated in HCC tissues, compared with non-cancerous liver tissue; moreover, both correlated significantly with tumor size. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that HCC patients who showed high levels of cytoplasmic SPON2 protein had poorer survival following curative resection, compared with HCC patients who exhibited low protein expression levels. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that tumor thrombus and SPON2 protein expression both independently correlated with reduced survival in HCC patients. Conclusion Upregulated expression of SPON2 protein in tumor tissue could be an effective prognostic indicator for patients with HCC.
Phyllodes tumors of the breast treated in a tertiary health care center: case series and literature review
Authors: Assi Hazem , Salem Rana , Sukhon Fares , Abbas Jaber , Boulos Fouad , Saghir Nagi El 
Published: October 2018

Objective This study was performed to determine the subtypes of phyllodes tumor (PT) in patients at a single tertiary healthcare center in Lebanon and to describe their characteristics along with a review of the literature. Methods This single-institution retrospective cohort study included all cases of PT of the breast treated at the American University of Beirut Medical Center from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2014. The patients’ demographic data, tumor characteristics, treatment data, and pathology reports were analyzed. Results Thirty patients were enrolled. Their median age was 42 years. In total, 66.7% had benign disease and 22.3% had malignant disease. Twenty-seven patients underwent surgery, four received radiotherapy, and one received systemic chemotherapy after PT progression. Twenty-seven patients had no recurrence at the last follow-up, two had local recurrence, and one had metastatic disease. All three patients with recurrence had an adequate negative surgical margin at the first excision. Conclusion This is the first cohort of patients with PT described in Lebanon and one of few in the Middle East. Our findings provide insight into the epidemiology, treatment modalities, and prognosis of PT in this geographical region.
Acute pain in cats: Recent advances in clinical assessment
Authors: Steagall Paulo V , Monteiro Beatriz P 
Published: October 2018

Practical relevance: Pain assessment has gained much attention in recent years as a means of improving pain management and treatment standards. It has become an elemental part of feline practice with ultimate benefit to feline health and welfare. Currently pain assessment involves mostly the investigation of sensory-discriminative (intensity, location and duration) and affective-motivational (emotional) domains of pain. Specific behaviors associated with acute pain have been identified and constitute the basis for its assessment in cats. Recent advances: The publication of pain scales with reported validation – the UNESP-Botucatu multidimensional composite pain scale and the Glasgow feline composite measure pain scale – and species-specific studies have advanced our knowledge on the subject. Facial expressions have also been shown to be different between painful and non-painful cats, and very recently the Feline Grimace Scale has been validated as a tool for acute pain assessment. Clinical challenges: Despite recent advances, several challenges still exist. For instance, the effects of disease and sedation on pain scoring/ assessment are unknown. Also, specific painful conditions (eg, dental pain) have not been systematically investigated. The development and validation of instruments for pain assessment by cat owners is warranted, as these tools are currently lacking. Aims: This article reviews the use, advantages, disadvantages and limitations of the two validated pain scales, and presents a practical, stepwise approach to feline pain recognition and assessment using a dynamic and interactive process. The authors also offer perspectives regarding current challenges and future directions.
Bimanual femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery compared to standard bimanual phacoemulsification: A case–control study
Authors: Cavallini Gian Maria , Fornasari Elisa , De Maria Michele , Lazzerini Andrea , Campi Luca , Verdina Tommaso 
Published: October 2018

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of bimanual, low-energy femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery with 1.4-mm microincisions compared to standard bimanual phacoemulsification (bimanual microincision cataract surgery). Design: Prospective, non-randomized comparative case series. Methods: Bimanual femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery with microincisions was performed on 80 eyes (Group A) with the low-energy Ziemer LDV Z8; a matched case–control series of 80 eyes performed with standard bimanual microincision cataract surgery technique was selected for comparison (Group B). All interventions were performed by the same experienced surgeon. Intraoperative parameters were recorded as well as intra- and postoperative complications. Best corrected visual acuity, surgically induced astigmatism, central corneal thickness and endothelial cell count were evaluated before surgery and at 1 and 3 months post intervention. Results: The mean effective phaco times were 3.79 ± 2.19 s (Group A) and 4.49 ± 1.84 s (Group B) (p = 0.041). No major intra- or postoperative complications occurred. An overall significant mean best corrected visual acuity improvement was noted at 3 months, but was not statistically different between the groups. No significant changes were observed for surgically induced astigmatism or corneal pachymetry. A significant loss of endothelial cell count in both groups was detected at 3 months, with Group A reporting a significantly lower endothelial cell count loss compared to Group B (p = 0.009). Conclusion: Bimanual, low-energy femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery with 1.4-mm microincisions by an expert surgeon was proven to be safe and effective in this study. This technique has advantages compared with standard bimanual microincision cataract surgery in terms of endothelial preservation.
Hip-spine syndrome: cross-sectional-study of spinal alignment in patients with coxalgia
Authors: Miyagi Masayuki , Fukushima Kensuke , Inoue Gen , Nakazawa Toshiyuki , Imura Takayuki , Saito Wataru , Takahira Naonobu , Takaso Masashi 
Published: October 2018

Introduction: Patients presenting with hip diseases often have coexisting spine disorders, a condition that is termed “hip-spine syndrome.” However, few reports have evaluated total spinal alignments in patients with coxalgia. In this study, we retrospectively examined the relationship between several clinical and x-ray parameters of the hip joints and spinal alignment in patients with coxalgia. Methods: 100 patients with coxalgia (24 men, 76 women; average age, 60.0 years; age range, 16–88 years) were included. We retrospectively evaluated the following clinical and x-ray findings of hip joints and total spinal alignment: range of motion (ROM) and pain score components of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Hip Score; leg length discrepancy (LLD); osteoarthritis (OA) stage of the hip; spinal coronal balance (Cobb angle and C7-central sacral ventral line [CSVL]); and spinal sagittal balance (sagittal vertical axis [SVA], pelvic tilt (PT), and pelvic incidence [PI]). Results: Significant positive correlations were detected between C7 - CSVL and LLD ( r = 0.35), whereas a significant negative correlation was found between SVA and hip ROM score ( r = −0.37). A significant positive correlation was also detected between SVA and OA stage of the hip ( r = 0.35). Conclusion: In the present study, large leg length discrepancy and hip pain may contribute to spinal coronal misalignment. In addition, advanced stage of OA and decreasing ROM of the hip may lead to increased spinal sagittal misalignment. These findings suggest that when evaluating spinal alignment, the progression of OA, LLD, and pain and ROM of the hip joint should be assessed.
Prevalence of Cannabis Use Among Medical Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Papazisis Georgios , Siafis Spyridon , Tsakiridis Ioannis , Koulas Ioannis , Dagklis Themistoklis , Kouvelas Dimitrios 
Published: October 2018

Objective: Cannabis is reported to be the most common illicit substance used among medical students; however, the number of related studies is limited and their results are not systematically reviewed. The aim of our study was to analyze the prevalence of lifetime and current use of cannabis among medical students worldwide. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed with adherence to the PRISMA guidelines. The electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane library were searched for studies on the prevalence of cannabis use among medical students. Prevalence of lifetime, past-year, and past-month cannabis use was extracted. Pooled prevalence and relative risk for sex were calculated using the random effects model and subgroup analyses were conducted. Results: A total of 38 observational (cross-sectional and cohort) studies were included (total number of participants 19 932), and most of them were conducted in Europe, Central and Southern America, and the United States. Overall pooled prevalence of lifetime cannabis use was 31.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 23.7%-39.6%), past-year use was 17.2% (95% CI: 10.8%-24.6%), and past-month use was 8.8% (95% CI: 5.6%-12.5%). Men displayed higher rates of cannabis use with a pooled relative risk of 1.55 (95% CI: 1.32-1.81). Heterogeneity was high ( I2 > 75%) and there were differences among continents in all outcomes ( P < .001). Conclusions: In conclusion, 1 in 3 medical students has used cannabis, whereas 8.8% were current users. Significant differences among continents were observed, but common finding was that male students tend to consume cannabis more often than female students.