bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Use of 3D Navigation in Subaxial Cervical Spine Lateral Mass Screw Insertion
Authors: Arab Abdullah , Alkherayf Fahad , Sachs Adam , Wai Eugene 
Published: February 2018

Objective Cervical spine can be stabilized by different techniques. One of the common techniques used is the lateral mass screws (LMSs), which can be inserted either by freehand techniques or three-dimensional (3D) navigation system. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the difference between the 3D navigation system and the freehand technique for cervical spine LMS placement in terms of complications. Including intraoperative complications (vertebral artery injury [VAI], nerve root injury [NRI], spinal cord injury [SCI], lateral mass fracture [LMF]) and postoperative complications (screw malposition, screw complications).
Methods Patients who had LMS fixation for their subaxial cervical spine from January 2014 to April 2015 at the Ottawa Hospital were included. A total of 284 subaxial cervical LMS were inserted in 40 consecutive patients. Surgical indications were cervical myelopathy and fractures. The screws' size was 3.5 mm in diameter and 8 to 16 mm in length. During the insertion of the subaxial cervical LMS, the 3D navigation system was used for 20 patients, and the freehand technique was used for the remaining 20 patients. We reviewed the charts, X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and follow-up notes for all the patients pre- and postoperatively.
Results Postoperative assessment showed that the incidence of VAI, SCI, and NRI were the same between the two groups. The CT scan analysis showed that the screw breakage, screw pull-outs, and screw loosening were the same between the two groups. LMF was less in the 3D navigation group but statistically insignificant. Screw malposition was less in the 3D navigation group compared with the freehand group and was statistically significant. The hospital stay, operative time, and blood loss were statistically insignificant between the two groups.
Conclusions The use of CT-based navigation in LMS insertion decreased the rate of screw malpositions as compared with the freehand technique. Further investigations and trials will determine the effect of malpositions on the c-spine biomechanics. The use of navigation in LMS insertion did not show a significant difference in VAI, LMF, SCI, or NRI as compared with the freehand technique.
Primary Closure versus Bedside Silo and Delayed Closure for Gastroschisis: A Truncated Prospective Randomized Trial
Authors: Poola Ashwini , Aguayo Pablo , Fraser Jason , Hendrickson Richard , Weaver Katrina , Gonzalez Katherine , St Peter Shawn 
Published: February 2018

Background We report a prospective randomized trial comparing primary closure (PC) to bedside silo and delayed closure (DC) for babies with gastroschisis.
Materials and Methods Patients were randomized to PC versus DC. We excluded those with atresia/necrosis, <34 weeks' gestation, or congenital anomalies. The primary outcome was length of stay (LOS).
Results A total of 38 patients were included from August 2011 to August 2016; 18 patients underwent DC and 20 PC. There were no differences in gestational age or birth weight. Fifty percent of PC patients were successfully closed with the rest closed at a median of 4 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 2–4 days). DC patients were closed at a median of 4 days after silo placement (IQR: 2–5.8 days). None of the patients in this series developed abdominal compartment syndrome after closure. Median LOS, median time to enteral tolerance, and median time on ventilation were not statistically different. Two patients (one DC and one PC) had bowel ischemia and necrosis following silo placement requiring reoperation. Four patients (two DC and two PC) were noted to have small umbilical defects; none have yet required operative correction.
Conclusion There were no differences seen between PC and DC in LOS, time to enteral feeds, or ventilator times.
Perioperative Complications of Transanal Pull-through Surgery for Hirschsprung's Disease
Authors: Pakarinen Mikko 
Published: February 2018

AbstractTransanal pull-through is currently one of the most commonly used operation to treat Hirschsprung's disease (HD) worldwide. It has undergone some technical modifications during the last decades and still contains variable surgical practices. As high quality comparative studies between different surgical approaches are missing, debate over the optimal operation for HD still continues. Transanal pull-through is associated with multiple potential complications, which may result in permanently impaired functional outcome, life-long morbidity, and significant social restrictions. Although some of the surgical complications can be successfully managed by repeated surgery, the best changes for optimal bowel function and fecal continence are lost. Surgical complications are best treated by efficient prevention with careful adherence to established surgical techniques and principles during the primary operation.
Pregnancy-associated Death – Clarifying the Cause of Death and Medico-legal Assessments in Accusations of Malpractice
Authors: Dettmeyer Reinhard , Lang Juliane , Amberg Rainer , Zedler Barbara , Schulz Ronald , Birngruber Christoph 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
Background Pregnancy-associated deaths are extremely rare in Germany. Most deaths are from natural causes, and a range of causes are possible.
Method The deaths of 22 women who died of pregnancy-associated causes and who were autopsied in the Institute of Forensic Medicine of Justus-Liebig University Gießen between 1992 and 2016 were analyzed.
Results The autopsy results and histological examinations for the majority of women who died of pregnancy-associated causes between 1992 and 2016 showed that they had died of natural causes, although complications of pregnancy were a leading cause of death.
Conclusion The death of a pregnant woman should not automatically raise the suspicion of malpractice, although the question does arise in cases of bleeding complications only detected at very late stages. Experts must prove that a real mistake was made during treatment and provide evidence of the causality between malpractice and patient death. Particularly when well-known complications of pregnancy were present, this is only the case if poor monitoring resulted in the complication being detected too late or if treatment was not in accordance with accepted standards of care. The majority of pregnancy-associated deaths are from natural causes and the death of a pregnant woman does not mean that medical malpractice was involved, although this accusation is often levelled in cases where rupture was not immediately diagnosed or in cases of fatal postpartum hemorrhage.
Die kontralaterale doppelte Transpositionslappenplastik
Authors: Konstantinow A. , Arnold A. 
Published: February 2018

ZusammenfassungDas Prinzip der einfachen Transpositionslappenplastik (TLP) (Synonym: Schwenklappenplastik) besteht darin, dass in der unmittelbaren Umgebung eines Hautdefektes ein gestielter Lappen mit axialer oder randomisierter Gefäßversorgung generiert und durch eine geringfügige Drehbewegung an seiner Basis über eine dazwischenliegende Zone von normaler Haut in den Defekt eingeschwenkt wird. Häufig erwähnte Varianten der einfachen Transpositionslappenplastik sind die Rhomboidplastiken nach Limberg und Dufourmentel sowie die unilateralen „bi-lobed“ und „tri-lobed“ Schwenklappen 1
2
3
4
5
6. Die kontralaterale doppelte TLP findet hingegen in der Literatur nur sehr selten Erwähnung 4.
Clinical, Endocrine and Imaging Characteristics of Patients with Primary Hypophysitis
Authors: Angelousi Anna , Cohen Carolina , Sosa Soledad , Danilowicz Karina , Papanastasiou Lina , Tsoli Marina , Pal Aparna , Piaditis Georgios , Grossman Ashley , Kaltsas Gregory 
Published: February 2018

AbstractPrimary hypophysitis (PH) is a rare disease with a poorly-defined natural history. Our aim was to characterise patients with PH at presentation and during prolonged follow-up. Observational retrospective study of 22 patients was conducted from 3 centres. In 14 patients, PH was confirmed histologically and in the remaining 8 clinically, after excluding secondary causes of hypophysitis. All patients had hormonal and imaging investigations before any treatment. Median follow up was 48 months (25–75%: 3–60). There was a female predominance with a female/male ratio: 3.4:1. Eight out of 22 patients had another autoimmune disease. Headaches and gonadal dysfunction were the most common symptoms. Five patients presented with panhypopituitarism; 17 patients had anterior pituitary deficiency, and 7 had diabetes insipidus. At presentation, 9 patients were treated surgically, 5 received replacement hormonal treatment, and 8 high-dose glucocorticoids from whom 5 in association with other immunosuppressive agents. Six patients showed complete recovery of pituitary hormonal deficiencies while 6 showed a partial recovery during a 5-year follow-up period. No difference was found between patients treated with surgery and those treated medically. The overall relapse rate was 18%. PH can be manifested with a broad spectrum of clinical and hormonal disturbances. Long-term follow-up is required to define the natural history of the disease and response to treatment, since pituitary hormonal recovery or relapse may appear many years after initial diagnosis. We suggest that surgery and immunosuppressive therapy be reserved for exceptional cases.
Parabelflüge für multidisziplinäre Forschung in Schwerelosigkeit – das DLR-Programm von 1999 bis 2017
Authors: Friedrich Ulrike , Stang Katrin 
Published: February 2018

ZusammenfassungMit der ersten eigenständigen wissenschaftlichen Parabelflugkampagne des Deutschen Zentrums für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) im Jahr 1999, durchgeführt von der französischen Firma Novespace in Bordeaux Mérignac, begann die erfolgreiche wissenschaftliche Nutzung der Fluggelegenheit „Parabelflüge mit Flugzeugen“ in Deutschland. Seit dieser Zeit bietet das DLR-Raumfahrtmanagement regelmäßig deutschen Forschern von Universitäten und anderen Forschungseinrichtungen sowie Firmen an, Fragen aus Biologie, Medizin, Sportwissenschaft, Physik und Materialforschung auf Parabelflügen zu bearbeiten. Neben der rein wissenschaftlichen Forschung dient diese Plattform außerdem dazu, Instrumente und Technologien vor ihrem Einsatz im Weltraum auf ihre Funktionalität und Schwerelosigkeitstauglichkeit zu testen. Einige Forschungsthemen aus den 18 Jahren der DLR-Parabelflugkampagnen werden vorgestellt.
What Does Antidepressant Drug level Monitoring Reveal About Outpatient Treatment and Patient Adherence?
Authors: Silhan Petr , Urinovska Romana , Kacirova Ivana , Hyza Martin , Grundmann Milan , Ceskova Eva 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
Introduction The evaluation of plasma levels of antidepressants may improve the treatment outcome. The aim was to verify adherence and adequacy of administered doses of antidepressants among patients hospitalized for inadequate outpatient therapeutic response.
Methods Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or venlafaxine plasma levels were assessed on the first day of hospitalization and after 3 days of controlled administration. The patients were considered adherent if the plasma level on admission was within the interval of the minimum and maximum plasma level on the fourth day, expanded by 30%. The adequacy of antidepressant doses used during the outpatient treatment was assessed by comparing the plasma level on the fourth day with the therapeutic reference range.
Results Out of 83 patients, 52 (62.7%) were adherent. The plasma levels of antidepressants on the fourth day were found to be within the therapeutic reference range in 35 (43.2%) patients. The same number manifested levels below the therapeutic reference range. In 11 (13.6%) patients, the levels were higher than recommended. No significant difference in rate of adherence was found among individual antidepressants.
Conclusion The results show that antidepressant nonresponders are frequently under-dosed or nonadherent.
How complex domination enables selection: Academic hiring conventions in a Pakistani university
Authors: Ali Qamar , Brandl Julia 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACT
The heterogeneity of criteria and of the faculty members involved in assessing candidates for academic positions raises the question how colleagues can find a common operational mode that enables them to select candidates. In this paper, we draw on convention theory (CT) to examine how powerful actors foster quietude and confidence in prevailing conventions which perpetuate their privileges. Findings from a study of a university in Pakistan show how actors use coordinative power to amend regulations, but also highlight how participating colleagues may resist this. The findings help to explicate the notion of complex domination and enrich CT scholars’ understanding of factors that can exacerbate inequalities in hiring.
Dynamic Frictional Sliding Modes between Two Homogenous Interfaces
Authors: Taj W , Coker D 
Published: February 2018

AbstractDynamic frictional sliding behaviour between two homogenous Homalite blocks is studied. The blocks are initially held together using a constant compressive stress. The sliding motion is initiated by impacting one of the blocks with an external object. The resulting sliding modes are inspected. Initiation of fretting is examined by studying the opening stresses in the interface.
Lean manufacturing analysis to reduce waste on production process of fan products
Authors: Siregar I , Nasution A A , Andayani U , Sari R M , Syahputri K , Anizar  
Published: February 2018

Abstract
This research is based on case study that being on electrical company. One of the products that will be researched is the fan, which when running the production process there is a time that is not value-added, among others, the removal of material which is not efficient in the raw materials and component molding fan. This study aims to reduce waste or non-value added activities and shorten the total lead time by using the tools Value Stream Mapping. Lean manufacturing methods used to analyze and reduce the non-value added activities, namely the value stream mapping analysis tools, process mapping activity with 5W1H, and tools 5 whys. Based on the research note that no value-added activities in the production process of a fan of 647.94 minutes of total lead time of 725.68 minutes. Process cycle efficiency in the production process indicates that the fan is still very low at 11%. While estimates of the repair showed a decrease in total lead time became 340.9 minutes and the process cycle efficiency is greater by 24%, which indicates that the production process has been better.
Genome-wide determination of on-target and off-target characteristics for RNA-guided DNA methylation by dCas9 methyltransferases
Authors: Lin Lin , Liu Yong , Xu Fengping , Huang Jinrong , Daugaard Tina Fuglsang , Petersen Trine Skov , Hansen Bettina , Ye Lingfei , Zhou Qing , Fang Fang , Yang Ling , Li Shengting , Fløe Lasse , Jensen Kristopher Torp , Shrock Ellen , Chen Fang , Yang Huanming , Wang Jian , Liu Xin , Xu Xun , Bolund Lars , Nielsen Anders Lade , Luo Yonglun 
Published: February 2018

Abstract

Background
Fusion of DNA methyltransferase domains to the nuclease-deficient clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) associated protein 9 (dCas9) has been used for epigenome editing, but the specificities of these dCas9 methyltransferases have not been fully investigated.

Findings
We generated CRISPR-guided DNA methyltransferases by fusing the catalytic domain of DNMT3A or DNMT3B to the C terminus of the dCas9 protein from Streptococcus pyogenes and validated its on-target and global off-target characteristics. Using targeted quantitative bisulfite pyrosequencing, we prove that dCas9-BFP-DNMT3A and dCas9-BFP-DNMT3B can efficiently methylate the CpG dinucleotides flanking its target sites at different genomic loci (uPA and TGFBR3) in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293T). Furthermore, we conducted whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) to address the specificity of our dCas9 methyltransferases. WGBS revealed that although dCas9-BFP-DNMT3A and dCas9-BFP-DNMT3B did not cause global methylation changes, a substantial number (more than 1000) of the off-target differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified. The off-target DMRs, which were hypermethylated in cells expressing dCas9 methyltransferase and guide RNAs, were predominantly found in promoter regions, 5΄ untranslated regions, CpG islands, and DNase I hypersensitivity sites, whereas unexpected hypomethylated off-target DMRs were significantly enriched in repeated sequences. Through chromatin immunoprecipitation with massive parallel DNA sequencing analysis, we further revealed that these off-target DMRs were weakly correlated with dCas9 off-target binding sites. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, RNA sequencing, and fluorescence reporter cells, we also found that dCas9-BFP-DNMT3A and dCas9-BFP-DNMT3B can mediate transient inhibition of gene expression, which might be caused by dCas9-mediated de novo DNA methylation as well as interference with transcription.

Conclusion
Our results prove that dCas9 methyltransferases cause efficient RNA-guided methylation of specific endogenous CpGs. However, there is significant off-target methylation indicating that further improvements of the specificity of CRISPR-dCas9 based DNA methylation modifiers are required.
Bipartite graphs in systems biology and medicine: a survey of methods and applications
Authors: Pavlopoulos Georgios A , Kontou Panagiota I , Pavlopoulou Athanasia , Bouyioukos Costas , Markou Evripides , Bagos Pantelis G 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
The latest advances in high-throughput techniques during the past decade allowed the systems biology field to expand significantly. Today, the focus of biologists has shifted from the study of individual biological components to the study of complex biological systems and their dynamics at a larger scale. Through the discovery of novel bioentity relationships, researchers reveal new information about biological functions and processes. Graphs are widely used to represent bioentities such as proteins, genes, small molecules, ligands, and others such as nodes and their connections as edges within a network. In this review, special focus is given to the usability of bipartite graphs and their impact on the field of network biology and medicine. Furthermore, their topological properties and how these can be applied to certain biological case studies are discussed. Finally, available methodologies and software are presented, and useful insights on how bipartite graphs can shape the path toward the solution of challenging biological problems are provided.
Correlation between SiO v = 3 J = 1 → 0 maser excitation and the light curve of a long-period variable star
Authors: Oyadomari Miyako , Imai Hiroshi , Nagayama Takumi , Oyama Tomoaki , Matsumoto Naoko , Nakashima Jun-ichi , Cho Se-Hyung 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
In order to understand the excitation mechanisms of silicon monoxide (SiO) masers around long-period variables (LPVs), we have investigated distributions of the SiO v = 2 and v = 3 J = 1 → 0 masers around 12 LPVs by very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations with the VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA) and the Nobeyama 45 m telescopes. VLBI fringes of the v = 3 maser emission were detected for five LPVs. The composite maps of the v = 2 and v = 3 masers were made for T Cep, W Hya, WX Psc, and R Leo using the spectral line phase-referencing technique. The v = 2 maser spots were distributed in a ring-like form around the central stars, while it is difficult to recognize any specific morphology in the v = 3 maser distributions due to the small number of v = 3 spots detected. However in T Cep, we find that the distribution of the v = 3 maser spots correlates well with the v = 2 masers within a few milliarcseconds (0.2–0.3 au) in position and 1 km s−1 in line-of-sight velocity at the light curve phase of ϕ = 0.28 (ϕ = 0.0 and 1.0 correspond to the visible light maxima). This correlation implies that the mechanism of line-overlapping between the mid-infrared lines of H2O and SiO molecules works in T Cep at ϕ = 0.28. We discuss the possibility that the line-overlapping may work at the limited duration from the maximum to the minimum of the stellar light curve.
Data management and sharing in neuroimaging: Practices and perceptions of MRI researchers
Authors: Borghi John A. , Van Gulick Ana E. 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACTNeuroimaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) involve complex data collection and analysis protocols, which necessitate the establishment of good research data management (RDM). Despite efforts within the field to address issues related to rigor and reproducibility, information about the RDM-related practices and perceptions of neuroimaging researchers remains largely anecdotal. To inform such efforts, we conducted an online survey of active MRI researchers that covered a range of RDM-related topics. Survey questions addressed the type(s) of data collected, tools used for data storage, organization, and analysis, and the degree to which practices are defined and standardized within a research group. Our results demonstrate that neuroimaging data is acquired in multifarious forms, transformed and analyzed using a wide variety of software tools, and that RDM practices and perceptions vary considerably both within and between research groups, with trainees reporting less consistency than faculty. Ratings of the maturity of RDM practices from ad-hoc to refined were relatively high during the data collection and analysis phases of a project and significantly lower during the data sharing phase. Perceptions of emerging practices including open access publishing and preregistration were largely positive, but demonstrated little adoption into current practice.
The dynamic basis of cognition: an integrative core under the control of the ascending neuromodulatory system
Authors: Shine J.M. , Breakspear M. , Bell P.T. , Ehgoetz Martens K. , Shine R. , Koyejo O. , Sporns O. , Poldrack R.A. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe human brain integrates diverse cognitive processes into a coherent whole, shifting fluidly as a function of changing environmental demands. Despite recent progress, the neurobiological mechanisms responsible for this dynamic system-level integration remain poorly understood. Here, we used multi-task fMRI data from the Human Connectome Project to examine the spatiotemporal architecture of cognition in the human brain. By investigating the spatial, dynamic and molecular signatures of system-wide neural activity across a range of cognitive tasks, we show that large-scale neuronal activity converges onto a low dimensional manifold that facilitates the dynamic execution of diverse task states. Flow within this attractor space is associated with dissociable cognitive functions, and with unique patterns of network-level topology and information processing complexity. The axes of the low-dimensional neurocognitive architecture align with regional differences in the density of neuromodulatory receptors, which in turn relate to distinct signatures of network controllability estimated from the structural connectome. These results advance our understanding of functional brain organization by emphasizing the interface between low dimensional neural activity, network topology, neuromodulatory systems and cognitive function.One Sentence SummaryA diverse set of neuromodulators facilitates the formation of a dynamic, low-dimensional integrative core in the brain that is recruited by diverse cognitive demands