bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A scale-invariant, Machian theory of gravitation and electrodynamics unified
Authors: Vishwakarma Ram Gopal 
Published: July 2018

As gravitation and electromagnetism are closely analogous long-range interactions, and the current formulation of gravitation is given in terms of geometry, we expect the latter also to appear through the geometry. This unification has however, remained an unfulfilled goal. The goal is achieved here in a new theory, which results from the principles of equivalence and Mach supplemented with a novel insight that the field tensors in a geometric theory of gravitation and electromagnetism must be traceless, since these long-range interactions are mediated by virtual exchange of massless particles whose mass is expected to be related to the trace of the field tensors. Hence, the Riemann tensor, like the analogous electromagnetic field tensor, must be traceless. Thence emerges a scale-invariant, Machian theory of gravitation and electrodynamics unified, wherein the vanishing of the Ricci tensor appears as a boundary condition. While the field equations of the theory are given by the vanishing divergence of the respective field tensors and their duals, the matter and charge emerge from the spacetime. A quantitative formulation thereof, embodied in “energy-momentum super tensors”, follows from the respective Bianchi identities for the two fields. The resulting theory is valid at all scales and explains the observations without invoking the non-baryonic dark matter, dark energy or inflation. Moreover, it answers the questions that the general relativity-based standard paradigm could not address.
Chronic treatment with the mitochondrial peptide humanin prevents age-related myocardial fibrosis in mice
Authors: Qin Qing , Mehta Hemal , Yen Kelvin , Navarrete Gerardo , Brandhorst Sebastian , Wan Junxiang , Delrio Silvia , Zhang Xin , Lerman Lilach O. , Cohen Pinchas , Lerman Amir 
Published: July 2018

Cardiac fibrosis is a biological process that increases with age and contributes to myocardial dysfunction. Humanin (HN) is an endogenous mitochondria-derived peptide that has cytoprotective effects and reduces oxidative stress. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that chronic supplementation of exogenous HN in middle-aged mice could prevent and reverse cardiac fibrosis and apoptosis in the aging heart. Female C57BL/6N mice at 18 mo of age received 14-mo intraperitoneal injections of vehicle (old group; n = 6) or HN analog (HNG; 4 mg/kg 2 times/wk, old + HNG group, n = 8) and were euthanized at 32 mo of age. C57BL/6N female mice (young group, n = 5) at 5 mo of age were used as young controls. HNG treatment significantly increased the ratio of cardiomyocytes to fibroblasts in aging hearts, as shown by the percentage of each cell type in randomly chosen fields after immunofluorescence staining. Furthermore, the increased collagen deposition in aged hearts was significantly reduced after HNG treatment, as indicated by picrosirius red staining. HNG treatment also reduced in aging mice cardiac fibroblast proliferation (5′-bromo-2-deoxyuridine staining) and attenuated transforming growth factor-β1, fibroblast growth factor-2, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression (immunohistochemistry or real-time PCR). Myocardial apoptosis was inhibited in HNG-treated aged mice (TUNEL staining). To decipher the pathway involved in the attenuation of the myocardial fibrosis by HNG, Western blot analysis was done and showed that HNG upregulated the Akt/glycogen synthase kinase -3β pathway in aged mice. Exogenous HNG treatment attenuated myocardial fibrosis and apoptosis in aged mice. The results of the present study suggest a role for the mitochondria-derived peptide HN in the cardioprotection associated with aging. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Cardiac fibrosis is a biological process that increases with age and contributes to myocardial dysfunction. Humanin is an endogenous mitochondria-derived peptide that has cytoprotective effects and reduces oxidative stress. Here, we demonstrate, for the first time, that exogenous humanin treatment attenuated myocardial fibrosis and apoptosis in aging mice. We also detected upregulated Akt/glycogen synthase kinase-3β pathway in humanin analog-treated mice, which might be the mechanism involved in the cardioprotective effect of humanin analog in aging mice.
D-2-Hydroxyglutarate Is an Intercellular Mediator in IDH-Mutant Gliomas Inhibiting Complement and T Cells
Authors: Zhang Lingjun , Sorensen Mia D. , Kristensen Bjarne W. , Reifenberger Guido , McIntyre Thomas M. , Lin Feng 
Published: July 2018

AbstractPurpose: Somatic mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-1 and -2 genes are remarkably penetrant in diffuse gliomas. These highly effective gain-of-function mutations enable mutant IDH to efficiently metabolize isocitrate to D-2-hydroxyglutarate (D 2-HG) that accumulates to high concentrations within the tumor microenvironment. D 2-HG is an intracellular effector that promotes tumor growth through widespread epigenetic changes in IDH-mutant tumor cells, but its potential role as an intercellular immune regulator remains understudied.Experimental Design: Complement activation and CD4+, CD8+, or FOXP3+ T-cell infiltration into primary tumor tissue were determined by immunohistochemistry using sections from 72 gliomas of World Health Organization (WHO) grade III and IV with or without IDH mutations. Ex vivo experiments with D 2-HG identified immune inhibitory mechanisms.Results: IDH mutation associated with significantly reduced complement activation and decreased numbers of tumor-infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells with comparable FOXP3+/CD4+ ratios. D 2-HG potently inhibited activation of complement by the classical and alternative pathways, attenuated complement-mediated glioma cell damage, decreased cellular C3b(iC3b) opsonization, and impaired complement-mediated phagocytosis. Although D 2-HG did not affect dendritic cell differentiation or function, it significantly inhibited activated T-cell migration, proliferation, and cytokine secretion.Conclusions: D 2-HG suppresses the host immune system, potentially promoting immune escape of IDH-mutant tumors. Clin Cancer Res; 24(21); 5381–91. ©2018 AACR.
Reference Ranges for the Size of the Fetal Cardiac Outflow Tracts From 13 to 36 Weeks Gestation
Authors: Vigneswaran Trisha V. , Akolekar Ranjit , Syngelaki Argyro , Charakida Marietta , Allan Lindsey D. , Nicolaides Kypros H. , Zidere Vita , Simpson John M. 
Published: July 2018

Background:
Assessment of the outflow tract views is an integral part of routine fetal cardiac scanning. For some congenital heart defects, notably coarctation of the aorta, pulmonary valve stenosis, and aortic valve stenosis, the size of vessels is important both for diagnosis and prognosis. Existing reference ranges of fetal outflow tracts are derived from a small number of cases.

Methods and Results:
The study population comprised 7945 fetuses at 13 to 36 weeks’ gestation with no detectable abnormalities from pregnancies resulting in normal live births. Prospective measurements were taken of (1) the aortic and pulmonary valves in diastole at the largest diameter with the valve closed, (2) the distal transverse aortic arch on the 3 vessel and trachea view beyond the trachea at the distal point at its widest systolic diameter, and (3) the arterial duct on the 3 vessel and trachea view at its widest systolic diameter. Regression analysis, with polynomial terms to assess for linear and nonlinear contributors, was used to establish the relationship between each measurement and gestational age. The measurement for each cardiac diameter was expressed as a z score (difference between observed and expected value divided by the fitted SD corrected for gestational age) and percentile. Analysis included calculation of gestation-specific SDs. Regression equations are provided for the cardiac outflow tracts and for the distal transverse aortic arch:arterial duct ratio.

Conclusions:
The study established reference ranges for fetal outflow tract measurements at 13 to 36 weeks’ gestation that are useful in clinical practice.
Cardiovascular and Noncardiovascular Death After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Brener Sorin J. , Tarantini Giuseppe , Leon Martin B. , Serruys Patrick W. , Smits Pieter C. , von Birgelen Clemens , Crowley Aaron , Ben-Yehuda Ori , Stone Gregg W. 
Published: July 2018

Background:
Despite advances in technology and technique, a substantial proportion of patients still die within several years after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The relative rates of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular death after PCI remain uncertain.

Methods and Results:

We pooled individual patient-level data from 21 randomized clinical trials of PCI performed in 32 882 patients. All studies had independent adjudication of clinical events. We calculated the relative ratio of cardiovascular to noncardiovascular death in each trial up to 5 years and identified predictors of all-cause, cardiovascular, and noncardiovascular death. At the end of the follow-up period, 1980 patients had died (Kaplan-Meier estimated mortality rate, 9.19%). The rates of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular mortality at 5 years were 4.23% (945) and 5.17% (1035), respectively. The rate of cardiovascular death was higher than noncardiovascular death in the first 30 days after PCI (relative ratio, 6.99; 95% confidence interval, 3.16–15.42;
P
<0.001), similar between 30 days and 1 year, and lower between 1 and 5 years (relative ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.58–0.84;
P
=0.0005). Any adverse cardiac event (definite stent thrombosis, spontaneous myocardial infarction, or repeat revascularization) preceded cardiovascular and noncardiovascular mortality in 292 (30.9%) and 151 (14.6%) patients, respectively. In a multivariable model with adverse events entered as time-adjusted covariates, myocardial infarction and definite ST were associated with early and late all-cause and cardiovascular mortality but not noncardiovascular mortality.

Conclusions:
In this large-scale study of patients undergoing PCI, the 5-year rates of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular mortality were similar, but their relative timing was different.
Impact of Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention on Global Absolute Coronary Flow and Flow Reserve Evaluated by Phase-Contrast Cine-Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Relation to Regional Invasive Physiological Indices
Authors: Kanaji Yoshihisa , Yonetsu Taishi , Hamaya Rikuta , Murai Tadashi , Usui Eisuke , Hoshino Masahiro , Yamaguchi Masao , Hada Masahiro , Kanno Yoshinori , Fukuda Tadashi , Ohya Hiroaki , Sumino Youhei , Sugano Akinori , Lee Tetsumin , Hirao Kenzo , Kakuta Tsunekazu 
Published: July 2018

Background:
Few studies have documented changes in global absolute coronary blood flow and global coronary flow reserve after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in relation to regional physiological measures. Phase-contrast cine-magnetic resonance of the coronary sinus is a promising approach to quantify global absolute coronary blood flow. We aimed to assess the impact of elective PCI on global absolute coronary blood flow and global coronary flow reserve by quantifying coronary sinus flow (CSF) using phase-contrast cine-magnetic resonance in relation to regional physiological indices.

Methods and Results:

We prospectively studied 54 patients with stable angina undergoing elective PCI for a single proximal lesion. Phase-contrast cine-magnetic resonance was used to assess CSF and CSF reserve at rest and during maximum hyperemia, before and after PCI. Regional physiological indices were obtained during PCI. A complete data set was obtained in 50 patients. Hyperemic CSF increased significantly after PCI (pre-PCI, 230.2 [167.4–282.8] mL/min; post-PCI, 267.4 [224.1–346.2] mL/min;
P
<0.01), although 12 patients (24.0%) showed a decrease, despite successful PCI and improved fractional flow reserve. CSF reserve numerically, albeit not statistically significant (
P
=0.19), increased from 2.65 (1.95–3.96) to 2.98 (2.13–4.32). Patients with decreased CSF after PCI were associated with significantly greater pre-PCI hyperemic CSF, lower global coronary vascular resistance, lower regional microcirculatory resistance, and higher fractional flow reserve (all
P
<0.01).

Conclusions:
Fractional flow reserve–guided PCI in patients with single de novo lesions was associated with increased absolute hyperemic CSF, although 24% of patients showed decreased hyperemic CSF, despite successful and uncomplicated PCI. The present approach combining regional and global physiological assessments may provide a novel insight into the dynamic behavior of the coronary hemodynamics and microvascular function after PCI.
A Model for U.S. Tornado Casualties Involving Interaction between Damage Path Estimates of Population Density and Energy Dissipation
Authors: Elsner James B. , Fricker Tyler , Berry William D. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractA recent study showed the importance of tornado energy as a factor in a model for tornado deaths and injuries (casualties). The model was additive under the assumption of uniform threat. Here, we test two explicit hypotheses designed to examine this additive assumption. The first hypothesis concerns energy dissipation’s effect conditional on population density and the second concerns population’s effect conditional on energy. Both hypotheses are tested using a regression model that contains the product of population density and energy dissipation. Results show that the elasticity of casualties with respect to energy dissipation increases with population density. That is, the percentage increase in casualties with increasing energy dissipation increases with population density. Similarly, the elasticity of casualties with respect to population density increases with energy dissipation. That is, the percentage increase in casualties with increasing population density increases with energy dissipation. Allowing energy and population elasticities to be conditional rather than constant provides a more complete description of how tornado casualties are influenced by these two important factors.
An Adaptive Approach for the Calculation of Ensemble Gridpoint Probabilities
Authors: Blake Benjamin T. , Carley Jacob R. , Alcott Trevor I. , Jankov Isidora , Pyle Matthew E. , Perfater Sarah E. , Albright Benjamin 
Published: July 2018

Abstract
Traditional ensemble probabilities are computed based on the number of members that exceed a threshold at a given point divided by the total number of members. This approach has been employed for many years in coarse-resolution models. However, convection-permitting ensembles of less than ~20 members are generally underdispersive, and spatial displacement at the gridpoint scale is often large. These issues have motivated the development of spatial filtering and neighborhood postprocessing methods, such as fractional coverage and neighborhood maximum value, which address this spatial uncertainty. Two different fractional coverage approaches for the generation of gridpoint probabilities were evaluated. The first method expands the traditional point probability calculation to cover a 100-km radius around a given point. The second method applies the idea that a uniform radius is not appropriate when there is strong agreement between members. In such cases, the traditional fractional coverage approach can reduce the probabilities for these potentially well-handled events. Therefore, a variable radius approach has been developed based upon ensemble agreement scale similarity criteria. In this method, the radius size ranges from 10 km for member forecasts that are in good agreement (e.g., lake-effect snow, orographic precipitation, very short-term forecasts, etc.) to 100 km when the members are more dissimilar. Results from the application of this adaptive technique for the calculation of point probabilities for precipitation forecasts are presented based upon several months of objective verification and subjective feedback from the 2017 Flash Flood and Intense Rainfall Experiment.
Efficacy of single dose albendazole and praziquantel drugs among helminth-infected school children at Rural Bahir Dar, northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Hailu Tadesse , Abera Bayeh , Mulu Wondemagegn , Alemu Megbaru , Yizengaw Endalew , Genanew Ashenafi 
Published: July 2018

The resistance of anthelminthic drugs makes helminth control difficult. The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy of single dose albendazole and praziquantel drugs among helminth-infected children. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June, 2017. Stool examination was done by the Formol-Ether concentration technique. Students infected with geohelminths and s chistosoma mansoni were treated with a single dose of albendazole and praziquantel, respectively. Post-treatment stool examination was performed after two weeks. The magnitude of parasite infection, percentage of egg count reduction and cure rate following treatment were calculated using descriptive statistics. A total of 409 Sebatamet primary school students were included. The total prevalence of intestinal parasitosis was 58%. The cure rate of albendazole against hookworm was only 76.8%. Praziquantel had a 91.4% cure rate against Schistosoma mansoni. Therefore, periodic evaluation of the efficacy of anthelminthic drugs is required.
Is specialized palliative cancer care associated with use of antineoplastic treatment at the end of life? A population-based cohort study
Authors: Skov Benthien Kirstine , Adsersen Mathilde , Petersen Morten Aagaard , Soelberg Vadstrup Eva , Sjøgren Per , Groenvold Mogens 
Published: July 2018

Background: The use of chemotherapy in the last 14 days of life should be as low as possible. Aim: To study the factors related to the use of chemotherapy in the last 14 days of life and the factors related to concurrent antineoplastic treatment and specialized palliative care. Design: This was a population-based cohort study. The data were collected from the Danish Register of Causes of Death, the Danish National Patient Register, and the Danish Palliative Care Database. Analyses were descriptive and multivariate logistic regression. Setting/participants: Cancer decedents between 2010 and 2013 in the Capital Region of Denmark. Results: During the study period, 17,246 individuals died of cancer and 33% received specialized palliative care. In the last 14 days of life, 4.2% received chemotherapy. Younger patients and patients with hematological cancers were more likely to receive chemotherapy in the last 14 days of life. Receiving specialized palliative care was associated with a lower risk of receiving chemotherapy in the last 14 days of life—odds ratio 0.15 for hospices and 0.53 for palliative hospital units. A total of 8% of the population received concurrent antineoplastic treatment and specialized palliative care. Female gender, younger age, and breast and prostate cancer were significantly associated with this concurrent model. Conclusion: Overall, the incidence of antineoplastic treatment in the last 14 days of life was low compared to other studies. Patients in specialized palliative care had a reduced risk of receiving chemotherapy at the end of life.
Anion gap and base deficit are predictors of mortality in acute pesticide poisoning
Authors: Lee SB , Kim DH , Kim T , Lee SH , Jeong JH , Kim SC , Park YJ , Lim D , Kang C 
Published: July 2018

Background: Acute pesticide poisoning has long been a serious problem as a method of suicide worldwide. This poisoning is a highly fatal condition that requires a rapid and precise diagnosis for adequate treatment. However, various studies on mortality predictor factors have been insufficient for whole pesticide treatments. We hypothesized that the initial plasma anion gap (AG) and base deficit (BD) are reliable prognostic factors. Methods: A retrospective study analyzed 561 patients with a diagnosis of acute pesticide poisoning between January 1, 2014 and June 30, 2017. The initial AG and BD values were divided into quartiles according to the number of patients. Survival at 30 days from admission was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn, and the areas under the curve for AG and BD for mortality were calculated. Results: Fifty-eight (10.3%) of 561 patients died within 30 days. The highest AG quartile (>22 mEq/L) was associated with an increased risk of 30-day hospital mortality. Compared to patients with an AG less than 14.7 mEq/L, these patients had a 4.18-fold higher risk of 30-day hospital mortality and the highest BD quartile (>7.9 mEq/L) was associated with an increased risk of 30-day hospital mortality. Compared to patients with a BD less than 1.4 mEq/L, these patients had 2.23-fold higher risk of 30-day hospital mortality. The areas under the ROC for AG and BD curve were 0.699 and 0.744, respectively. Conclusions: Initial high AG and BD values could predict mortality and require precise intensive care.
Effects of coat length and faecal hair removal on measured nutrient digestibility in cats
Authors: Kim Hee S , Hong Jin S , Park Chang W , Cho Kyung H , Kim Yoo Y 
Published: July 2018

Objectives This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of coat length and faecal hair removal on measured nutrient digestibility in longhair and shorthair cats. Methods A total of 14 adult domestic cats, with a mean ± SD body weight of 4.5 ± 1.21 kg and a mean ± SD age of 3.3 ± 1.38 years, were used for a nutrient digestibility trial. The nutrient digestibility of cats was measured by hair-included faeces and hair-removed faeces. Food was provided twice daily (09:00 h and 16:00 h) and water was provided ad libitum. Cats were adapted to a steel cage and diet for 16 days before a 10 day collection period. During the collection period, food offered, food refused and faecal output were measured daily and used for digestibility analysis. Results The digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) of longhair cats was underestimated by 8% ( P = 0.02), 9% ( P = 0.04) and 14% ( P = 0.04), respectively. In shorthair cats, the digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and crude ash increased by 4% ( P = 0.01), 5% ( P = 0.02) and 15% ( P <0.01), respectively, with hair-removed faeces. The nutrient digestibility between longhair and shorthair cats showed no difference when hair-included faeces were used. However, when using hair-removed faeces, the digestibility of NDF and amino acids in longhair cats were about 4–8% higher than in shorthair cats ( P <0.05). Conclusions and relevance This study showed that the nutrient digestibility values were affected by whether the hair in faeces was removed or not. Removing hair from faeces is a more precise method with which to evaluate the apparent nutrient digestibility of domestic cats.