bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of ultrasound contrast agent on the detection of thrombi during transoesophageal echocardiography
Authors: Ebelt Henning , Offhaus Alexandra , Wiora Matthias , Roehl Peter , Schwenzky Andreas , Weida Anja , Hoyme Matthias , Bindemann-Koecher Juliane , Anacker Jelena 
Published: September 2019

BackgroundAtrial fibrillation (AF) carries the risk of thrombus formation in the left atrium and especially in the left atrial appendage (LAA). A transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) is routinely performed in these patients to rule out thrombi before cardioversion or structural interventions like LAA closure or pulmonary vein isolation. However, in a certain number of cases, inconclusive results of the TOE may result. This study was performed to analyse whether the routine use of ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) has an influence on the frequency of thrombus detection.MethodsIn patients with AF who were scheduled for a subsequent interventional procedure, a TOE was initially performed without contrast agent. Then, the TOE was repeated with the use of UCA. The percentage of diagnostic findings regarding the prevalence of thrombus in the LAA with and without UCA were compared (thrombus present (T+), no thrombus (T−) and inconclusive result (T+/−)).Results223 patients were prospectively included into the trial. The numbers of thrombus detection were as follows: without UCA: 17 T+ (7.6%), 154 T− (69.1%), 52 T+/− (23,3%); with UCA: 16 T+ (7.2%), 179 T− (80.3%), 28 T+/− (12.6%; χ2: p<0.01). In 29 examinations (13.0%), the use of UCA had an impact on the subsequent treatment strategy.ConclusionsThe use of UCA during TOE in patients with AF has a significant impact on the subsequent patient management especially due to an improved rule out of LAA thrombi.
Rates of $$D^{*}_{0}(2400)$$, $$ D_J^*(3000) $$ as the $$D^{*}_{0}(2P)$$ and $$D^{*}_{0}(3P)$$ in B decays
Authors: Tan Xiao-Ze , Jiang Yue , Wang Tianhong , Zhou Tian , Li Geng , Geng Zi-Kan , Wang Guo-Li 
Published: September 2019

AbstractIn this paper, we use the instantaneous Bethe–Salpeter method to calculate the semi-leptonic and non-leptonic production of the orbitally excited scalar$$ D_0^* $$D0∗inBmeson decays. When the final state is 1Pstate$$ D_0^*(2400) $$D0∗(2400), our theoretical decay rate is consistent with experimental data. For$$ D_J^*(3000) $$DJ∗(3000)final state, which was observed by LHCb collaboration recently and here treated as the orbitally excited scalar$$D^{*}_{0}(2P)$$D0∗(2P), its rate is in the order of$$ 10^{-4} \sim 10^{-6}$$10-4∼10-6. We find the special node structure of$$D^{*}_{0}(2P)$$D0∗(2P)wave function possibly results in the suppression of its branching ratio and the abnormal uncertainty. The 3Pstates production rate is in the order of$$ 10^{-5}$$10-5.
Molecular dynamics simulations of single-walled carbon nanotubes and polynylon66
Authors: Zhang Danhui , Yang Houbo , Liu Zhongkui , Liu Anmin 
Published: September 2019

Polynylon66, as a kind of important engineering plastics, is widely used in various fields. In this work, we studied the interfacial interactions between polynylon66 and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The results showed that the polynylon66 could interact with the SWCNTs and the mechanism of interfacial interaction between polynylon66 and SWCNTs was also discussed. Furthermore, the morphology of polynylon66 adsorbed to the surface of SWCNTs was investigated by the radius of gyration. Influence factors such as the initial angle between polynylon66 chain and nanotube axis, SWCNT radius and length of polynylon66 on interfacial adhesion of single-walled carbon nanotube-polymer and the radius of gyration of the polymers were studied. These results will help to better understand the interfacial interaction between polymer and carbon nanotube (CNT) and also guide the fabrication of high performance polymer/carbon nanotube nanocomposites.
Differential Cumulative Risk of Genetic Polymorphisms in Familial and Nonfamilial Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Suo Chen , Qing Tao , Liu Zhenqiu , Yang Xiaorong , Yuan Ziyu , Yang Ya-Jun , Fan Min , Zhang Tiejun , Lu Ming , Jin Li , Chen Xingdong , Ye Weimin 
Published: September 2019

Abstract

Background:
To explore the relationship between family history of esophageal cancer, SNPs, and the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), we performed a population-based case–control study and developed a genetic family history–related risk (GFR) score and non–family history-related risk (GnFR) score to quantify the cumulative number of risk genotypes carried by each individual.

Methods:
We used data of 700 patients with nonfamilial ESCC, 341 patients with familial ESCC, 1,445 controls without a family history of esophageal cancer, and 319 controls with a family history. We genotyped 87 genetic variants associated with the risk for ESCC, and constructed GFR and GnFR scores for cases and controls.

Results:
Our results show that ESCC risk increased with higher GFR score (Ptrend = 0.0096). Among the familial subgroup, we observed a nearly 7-fold [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.92–24.77] higher risk of ESCC in the highest GFR score group. The corresponding estimate was only 2-fold (95% CI, 1.41–3.93) higher risk of ESCC, in the stratum without a reported family history of esophageal cancer. Certain cell signaling pathways and immune-related pathways were enriched, specifically in familial ESCC. Results from a reconstructed cohort analysis demonstrated that cumulative risk to get esophageal cancer by age 75 years was 13.3%, 10.2%, 8.2%, and 5.1%, respectively, in four subgroups as defined by first-degree relatives of cases or controls with high or low genetic risk score. In particular, the cohort of relatives of ESCC cases with low genetic risk score exhibit a higher cumulative risk than the cohort of relatives of controls with high genetic risk score. It demonstrates that environmental factors play a major role in esophageal cancer.

Conclusions:
Further studies are warranted to dissect the mechanisms of shared environmental and genetic susceptibility affecting the risk of getting ESCC.

Impact:
Our study highlights that the need of preventive strategies to screen certain genetic polymorphisms, especially in individuals whose relatives had ESCC.
Leveraging Human Genetics to Estimate Clinical Risk Reductions Achievable by Inhibiting Factor XI
Authors: Georgi Benjamin , Mielke Johanna , Chaffin Mark , Khera Amit V. , Gelis Lian , Mundl Hardi , van Giezen J.J.J. , Ellinor Patrick , Kathiresan Sekar , Ziegelbauer Karl , Freitag Daniel F. 
Published: September 2019

Background and Purpose—Coagulation factor XI (FXI) is a novel target for antithrombotic therapy addressed by various therapeutic modalities currently in clinical development. The expected magnitude of thrombotic event reduction mediated by targeting FXI is unclear.Methods—We analyzed the association of 2 common genetic variants, which alter levels of FXI, with a range of human phenotypes. We combined variants into a genetic score standardized to a 30% increase in relative activated partial thromboplastin time, equivalent to what can be achieved with pharmacological FXI reduction. Using data from 371 695 participants in the United Kingdom Biobank and 2 large-scale genome-wide association studies, we examined the effect of this FXI score on thrombotic and bleeding end points.Results—Genetic disposition to lower FXI levels was associated with reduced risks of venous thrombosis (odds ratio, 95% CI;Pvalue; odds ratio=0.1, 0.07–0.14;P=3×10−43) and ischemic stroke (odds ratio=0.47, 0.36–0.61;P=2×10−8) but not with major bleeding (odds ratio=0.7, 0.45–1.04;P=0.0739). The observed relative risk reductions were consistent within a range of subgroups that were at high risk for thrombosis. Consistently, we observed higher absolute risk reductions conferred by genetically lower FXI levels in high-risk subgroups, such as patients with atrial fibrillation.Conclusions—Human genetic data suggest that pharmacological inhibition of FXI may achieve considerable reductions in ischemic stroke risk without clear evidence for an associated risk of major bleeding. The quantitative framework developed can be used to support the estimation of achievable risk reductions with pharmacological modulation of FXI.
Automated Measurement of Cerebral Atrophy and Outcome in Endovascular Thrombectomy
Authors: Diprose William K. , Diprose James P. , Wang Michael T.M. , Tarr Gregory P. , McFetridge Andrew , Barber P. Alan 
Published: September 2019

Background and Purpose—
Methods of identifying ischemic stroke patients with a greater probability of poor outcome following endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) might improve shared treatment decision-making between patients, families, and physicians. We used an objective, automated method to measure cerebral atrophy and investigated whether this was associated with outcome in EVT patients.

Methods—
Consecutive EVT patients from a single-center registry were studied. CT brain scans were segmented with a combination of a validated U-Net and Hounsfield unit thresholding. Intracranial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume was used as a marker of cerebral atrophy and calculated as a proportion of total intracranial volume. The primary outcome was functional independence, defined as a 3-month modified Rankin Scale score of 0 to 2.

Results—

Three-hundred sixty EVT patients were included. Functional independence was achieved in 204 (56.7%) patients. The mean±SD CSF volume was 9.0±4.7% of total intracranial volume. Multivariable regression demonstrated that increasing CSF volume was associated with reduced functional independence (OR=0.65 per 5% increase in CSF volume; 95% CI, 0.48–0.89;
P
=0.007) and higher 3-month modified Rankin Scale scores (common OR, 1.59 per 5% increase in CSF volume; 95% CI, 1.05–2.41;
P
=0.03).

Conclusions—
Cerebral atrophy determined by automated measurement of intracranial CSF volume is associated with functional outcome in patients undergoing EVT. If validated in future studies, this simple, objective, and automated imaging marker could potentially be incorporated into decision-support tools to improve shared treatment decision-making.
The Rapid Emergence of Auditory Object Representations in Cortex Reflect Central Acoustic Attributes
Authors: Ogg Mattson , Carlson Thomas A. , Slevc L. Robert 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Human listeners are bombarded by acoustic information that the brain rapidly organizes into coherent percepts of objects and events in the environment, which aids speech and music perception. The efficiency of auditory object recognition belies the critical constraint that acoustic stimuli necessarily require time to unfold. Using magnetoencephalography, we studied the time course of the neural processes that transform dynamic acoustic information into auditory object representations. Participants listened to a diverse set of 36 tokens comprising everyday sounds from a typical human environment. Multivariate pattern analysis was used to decode the sound tokens from the magnetoencephalographic recordings. We show that sound tokens can be decoded from brain activity beginning 90 msec after stimulus onset with peak decoding performance occurring at 155 msec poststimulus onset. Decoding performance was primarily driven by differences between category representations (e.g., environmental vs. instrument sounds), although within-category decoding was better than chance. Representational similarity analysis revealed that these emerging neural representations were related to harmonic and spectrotemporal differences among the stimuli, which correspond to canonical acoustic features processed by the auditory pathway. Our findings begin to link the processing of physical sound properties with the perception of auditory objects and events in cortex.
(Dis)Counting Languages
Authors: Parvulescu Anca , Boatcă Manuela 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
The essay analyzes the interglottism at work in Liviu Rebreanu’s novel Ion (1920) against the polyglottism theorized and performed editorially by the first Comparative Literature journal (ACLU), which it positions against the background of post-1867 Austro-Hungarian imperial policies for the use of languages.
Understanding Reservoir Operating Rules in the Transboundary Nile River Basin Using Macroscale Hydrologic Modeling with Satellite Measurements
Authors: Eldardiry Hisham , Hossain Faisal 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Challenges to manage and secure a sustainable water supply are expected to become more acute in Egypt as the lowermost riparian country of the Nile basin with the construction of new transboundary water infrastructures in Ethiopia and Sudan. To understand the impact of such transboundary water projects on Egypt, it is first necessary to develop a modeling tool that can simulate potential flow and reservoir scenarios inside Egypt without requiring in situ hydrologic or transboundary dam data that are typically unavailable. This study presents the water management value of a modeling framework to predict the current and future reservoir operating rules in the lower Nile basin using satellite Earth observations and hydrologic models. The platform comprises the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) hydrologic model driven by high spatial and temporal resolution of satellite observations. Reservoir storage change is estimated using altimeter and visible imagery of lake area for Lake Nasser and then applied to infer reservoir operation for High Aswan Dam (HAD). The modeling framework based on satellite observations yielded a simulated streamflow at the outlet for Blue Nile basin (BNB) with a Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency of 0.68 with a correlation and RMSE of 0.94 and 1095 m3 s−1, respectively. Storage and outflow discharge of HAD were estimated for the period of 1998–2002 within 1.4% accuracy (0.076 km3 month−1) when compared with published reports. Because BNB controls the lion’s share of the variability to HAD inflow inside Egypt, the proposed modeling framework is appropriate for policy-makers to understand the implications of transboundary projects on the future water security of Egypt.
Postoperative Bioresorbable Chitosan-Based Dressing for Endoscopic Middle Meatal Dacryocystorhinostomy With Balloon Dilation
Authors: Winebrake James P. , Mahrous Abdallah , Kacker Ashutosh , Tabaee Abtin , Levinger Joshua I. , Pearlman Aaron N. , Stewart Michael G. , Lelli Gary J. 
Published: September 2019

Purpose: To evaluate the improvement in epiphora and need for surgical revision in patients with acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction following balloon-assisted, middle meatal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy with chitosan-based dressing versus bioresorbable polyurethane packing versus no packing. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective study of consecutive adult patients seen from 2015 to 2018 with follow-up evaluation of epiphora at least 3 months after balloon-assisted, middle meatal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy. Patients with a history of prior punctoplasty, septoplasty, sinus surgery, or dacryocystorhinostomy of any kind were excluded. Those meeting criteria were stratified by postoperative hemostatic intervention: no packing, bioresorbable packing, and chitosan-based dressing (groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively). Procedural outcomes were graded as successes or failures based on subjective report and anatomical findings at most recent visit within an 18-month postoperative window. Instances of recommendation for revision surgery were also recorded. Results: Forty-three cases (36 patients) met the abovementioned criteria. Groups 1, 2, and 3 comprised 12, 17, and 14 cases each, respectively. Average patient age was 55.3 years old, and average duration of follow-up was 6.7 months. Significant variation in outcomes was detected across the 3 groups ( P = .0495), particularly between groups 1 and 3 ( P = .033). Use of chitosan-based dressing trended toward reduced rates of recommendation for surgical revision ( P = .203, P = .113). Conclusions: Use of chitosan-based dressing after endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy was associated with improved subjective and anatomical outcomes. It may also contribute to less frequent need for revision surgery. Further study in a larger prospective trial is recommended.
Investigation of Astaxanthin Effect on Cisplatin Ototoxicity in Rats by Using Otoacoustic Emission, Total Antioxidant Capacity, and Histopathological Methods
Authors: Kınal M. Emrah , Tatlıpınar Arzu , Uzun Selami , Keskin Serhan , Tekdemir Emrah , Özbeyli Dilek , Akakın Dilek 
Published: September 2019

Background: Cisplatin-induced ototoxicity is related to oxidative stress. Astaxanthin is one of the most powerful antioxidants in nature. Aims/objectives: To investigate the protective effect of astaxanthin on cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five Sprague Dawley female rats were divided into 5 groups: control, cisplatin, and cisplatin with 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg astaxanthin groups. Cisplatin group received a single intraperitoneal injection of 14 mg/kg cisplatin. While saline was administered in the control group, in the other 3 groups, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg daily doses of astaxanthin were administered through orogastric cannula before administration of cisplatin. Baseline and 10th day otoacoustic emission tests were administered. An intracardiac blood sample was taken to measure total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and the cochleas of the animals were investigated histopathologically. Results: Hearing level of astaxanthin 40 mg/kg + cisplatin group was higher at 24 kHz and 32 kHz frequencies compared to the cisplatin group. The TAC value of the cisplatin group was lower than both the control and astaxanthin + cisplatin groups ( P < .05). On histopathological examination, the other groups were deformed compared to the control group, but no statistically significant difference was observed between the astaxanthin + cisplatin and cisplatin groups. Conclusions and significance: Astaxanthin showed protective effect at high frequencies when it was administered at high dose. Thus, astaxanthin may have protective effect against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.
Acupuncture and related interventions for carpal tunnel syndrome: systematic review
Authors: Wu Irene XY , Lam Victor CK , Ho Robin ST , Cheung William KW , Sit Regina WS , Chou Li-Wei , Zhang Yan , Leung Ting-Hung , Chung Vincent CH 
Published: September 2019

Objective: To synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of acupuncture and related therapies for primary carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) by conducting a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Data Sources: Nine databases were searched for potential RCTs from their inception till July 2019. Review Methods: RCTs which reported at least one of the three outcomes were included: symptom severity, functional status and pain. Included RCTs were appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Results: A total of 10 RCTs (728 participants) were included. Majority were at high risk of bias for blinding of participants, personnel and outcome assessors. When compared to conventional medications, manual acupuncture showed significant superior effect in reducing symptom than ibuprofen (mean difference (MD) on Symptom Severity Scale (SSS)) = –5.80, 95% confidence interval (CI): −7.95 to −3.65) and prednisolone (MD = −6.50, 95% CI: −10.1, −2.86). Electroacupuncture plus splinting was more effective in reducing symptom severity than splinting alone (SSS score: MD = −0.20, 95% CI: −0.36 to −0.03). Manual acupuncture showed significantly superior effect than ibuprofen in improving functional status (Functional Status Scale (FSS): MD = −1.84, 95% CI: −2.66 to −1.02). The combination of electroacupuncture and splinting showed more improvement in functional status compared to splinting alone (FSS: MD = −6.22, 95%CI: −10.7 to −1.71). Triple treatment of acupuncture, magnetic spectrum heat lamp and splinting showed stronger pain relief than splinting alone. Conclusion: For both symptom relief and function improvement, manual acupuncture is superior to ibuprofen while electroacupuncture plus splinting outperforms splinting alone. Limited evidence showed electroacupuncture’s potential role in pain reduction.
Social cognition impairments in long-term opiate users in treatment
Authors: Terrett Gill , Mercuri Kimberly , Pizarro-Campagna Elizabeth , Hugrass Laila , Curran H Valerie , Henry Julie D , Rendell Peter G 
Published: September 2019

Background: Long-term opiate users experience pervasive social difficulties, but there has been surprisingly limited research focused on social-cognitive functioning in this population. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate whether three important aspects of social cognition (facial emotion recognition, theory of mind (ToM) and rapid facial mimicry) differ between long-term opiate users and healthy controls. Methods: The participants were 25 long-term opiate users who were enrolled in opiate substitution programmes, and 25 healthy controls. Facial emotion recognition accuracy was indexed by responses to 60 photographs of faces depicting the six basic emotions (happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise and disgust). ToM was assessed using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes task, which requires participants to infer mental states of others from partial facial cues. Rapid facial mimicry was assessed by recording activity in the zygomaticus major and corrugator supercilii muscle regions while participants passively viewed images of happy and angry facial expressions. Results: Relative to the control group, the opiate user group exhibited deficits in both facial emotion recognition and ToM. Moreover, only control participants exhibited typical rapid facial mimicry responses to happy facial expressions. Conclusions: These data indicate that long-term opiate users exhibit abnormalities in three distinct areas of social-cognitive processing, pointing to the need for additional work to establish how social-cognitive functioning relates to functional outcomes in this group. Such work may ultimately inform the development of interventions aimed at improving treatment outcomes for long-term opiate users.