bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Uninterrupted edoxaban vs. vitamin K antagonists for ablation of atrial fibrillation: the ELIMINATE-AF trial
Authors: Hohnloser Stefan H , Camm John , Cappato Riccardo , Diener Hans-Christoph , Heidbüchel Hein , Mont Lluís , Morillo Carlos A , Abozguia Khalid , Grimaldi Massimo , Rauer Heiko , Reimitz Paul-Egbert , Smolnik Rüdiger , Mönninghoff Christoph , Kautzner Josef 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAimsEdoxaban is a direct factor Xa inhibitor approved for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF). Uninterrupted edoxaban therapy in patients undergoing AF ablation has not been tested.Methods and resultsThe ELIMINATE-AF trial, a multinational, multicentre, randomized, open-label, parallel-group study, was conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of once-daily edoxaban 60 mg (30 mg in patients indicated for dose reduction) vs. vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in AF patients undergoing catheter ablation. Patients were randomized 2:1 to edoxaban vs. VKA. The primary endpoint (per-protocol population) was time to first occurrence of all-cause death, stroke, or International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis-defined major bleeding during the period from the end of the ablation procedure to end of treatment (90 days). Overall, 632 patients were enrolled, 614 randomized, and 553 received study drug and underwent ablation; 177 subjects underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging to assess silent cerebral infarcts. The primary endpoint (only major bleeds occurred) was observed in 0.3% (1 patient) on edoxaban and 2.0% (2 patients) on VKA [hazard ratio (95% confidence interval): 0.16 (0.02–1.73)]. In the ablation population (modified intent-to-treat population including patients with ablation), the primary endpoint was observed in 2.7% of edoxaban (N = 10) and 1.7% of VKA patients (N = 3) between start of ablation and end of treatment. There were one ischaemic and one haemorrhagic stroke, both in patients on edoxaban. Cerebral microemboli were detected in 13.8% (16) patients who received edoxaban and 9.6% (5) patients in the VKA group (nominal P = 0.62).ConclusionUninterrupted edoxaban therapy represents an alternative to uninterrupted VKA treatment in patients undergoing AF ablation.
Psychological profile of teenagers toward organ donation: a multicentric study in Spain
Authors: Febrero B , Ríos A , López-Navas A , Martínez-Alarcón L , Almela-Baeza J , Sánchez J , Parrilla J J , Parrilla P , Ramírez P 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Background
It is important for teenagers to have a favorable attitude toward organ donation and transplantation (ODT) in order to increase the number of future donors. To determine the attitude of teenagers in the South East of Spain toward ODT and to analyze the psychosocial variables related to this attitude.

Methods
The study population consisted of young teenagers in the South East of Spain. A stratified sample was selected by geographical location, sex and age (n = 4, 117). Attitude was assessed using a validated questionnaire about ODT (PCID-ODT Ríos). Statistical analysis: Student’s t-test, Chi-squared test and a multivariate analysis.

Results
The questionnaire completion rate was 87% (n = 3572). Attitude toward ODT was favorable in 46% of cases (n = 1633) and undecided in 43% (n = 1543). Several psychosocial variables had a favorable effect on donation: believing that one has good information about ODT (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.706); discussing the subject with the family (OR 1.543) and friends (OR 1.818); carrying out pro-social activities (OR 1.642); having a favorable attitude toward cremation (OR 1.466) and autopsy (OR 1.470); and, finally, not being afraid of scars (OR 4.184).

Conclusions
Teenagers in the South East of Spain are not currently inclined to support organ donation. This attitude is related to many psychosocial factors, mainly connected to not having good information about the subject, not discussing it in social circles and the fear of body mutilation. It would be appropriate to create educational interventional strategies in this group to prevent a negative impact on future donation rates.
Social support and cognitive function in middle- and older-aged adults: descriptive analysis of CLSA tracking data
Authors: Oremus Mark , Konnert Candace , Law Jane , Maxwell Colleen J , O’Connell Megan E , Tyas Suzanne L 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundCognitive function is important for healthy aging. Social support availability (SSA) may modify cognitive function. We descriptively examined the association between SSA and cognitive function in a population-level sample of middle- and older-aged adults.MethodsWe analyzed the tracking dataset of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Participants aged between 45 and 85 years answered questions about SSA and performed three cognitive tests (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Animal Fluency Test and Mental Alternation Test) via telephone. We divided global SSA and global cognitive function scores into tertiles and generated contingency tables for comparisons across strata defined by sex, age group, region of residence, urban vs. rural residence and education.ResultsThe proportion of participants with low global cognitive function was often greater among persons who reported low global SSA. The proportion of persons with high cognitive function was greater in participants with high SSA. The findings were most pronounced for females, 45- to 54-year olds, all regions (especially Québec) except Atlantic Canada, urban dwellers and persons with less than high school education.ConclusionsOur results can help public health officials focus on providing social supports to subgroups of the population who would benefit the most from policy interventions.
The Ecomechanics of Gecko Adhesion: Natural Surface Topography, Evolution, and Biomimetics
Authors: Higham Timothy E , Russell Anthony P , Niewiarowski Peter H , Wright Amber , Speck Thomas 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe study of gecko adhesion is necessarily interdisciplinary due to the hierarchical nature of the adhesive system and the complexity of interactions between the animals and their habitats. In nature, geckos move on a wide range of surfaces including soft sand dunes, trees, and rocks, but much of the research over the past two decades has focused on their adhesive performance on artificial surfaces. Exploring the complex interactions between geckos and their natural habitats will reveal aspects of the adhesive system that can be applied to biomimetic research, such as the factors that facilitate movement on dirty and rough surfaces with varying microtopography. Additionally, contrasting suites of constraints and topographies are found on rocks and plants, likely driving differences in locomotion and morphology. Our overarching goals are to bring to light several aspects of ecology that are important for gecko–habitat interactions, and to propose a framework for how they can inspire material scientists and functional ecologists. We also present new data on surface roughness and topography of a variety of surfaces, and adhesive performance of Phelsuma geckos on surfaces of varying roughness. We address the following key questions: (1) why and how should ecology be incorporated into the study of gecko adhesion? (2) What topographical features of rocks and plants likely drive adhesive performance? (3) How can ecological studies inform material science research? Recent advances in surface replication techniques that eliminate confounding factors among surface types facilitate the ability to address some of these questions. We pinpoint gaps in our understanding and identify key initiatives that should be adopted as we move forward. Most importantly, fine details of locomotor microhabitat use of both diurnal and nocturnal geckos are needed.
Hypothesized Evolutionary Consequences of the Alternative Oxidase (AOX) in Animal Mitochondria
Authors: Weaver Ryan J 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe environment in which eukaryotes first evolved was drastically different from what they experience today, and one of the key limiting factors was the availability of oxygen for mitochondrial respiration. During the transition to a fully oxygenated Earth, other compounds such as sulfide posed a considerable constraint on using mitochondrial aerobic respiration for energy production. The ancestors of animals, and those that first evolved from the simpler eukaryotes have mitochondrial respiratory components that are absent from later-evolving animals. Specifically, mitochondria of most basal metazoans have a sulfide-resistant alternative oxidase (AOX), which provides a secondary oxidative pathway to the classical cytochrome pathway. In this essay, I argue that because of its resistance to sulfide, AOX respiration was critical to the evolution of animals by enabling oxidative metabolism under otherwise inhibitory conditions. I hypothesize that AOX allowed for metabolic flexibility during the stochastic oxygen environment of early Earth which shaped the evolution of basal metazoans. I briefly describe the known functions of AOX, with a particular focus on the decreased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during stress conditions. Then, I propose three evolutionary consequences of AOX-mediated protection from ROS observed in basal metazoans: 1) adaptation to stressful environments, 2) the persistence of facultative sexual reproduction, and 3) decreased mitochondrial DNA mutation rates. Recognizing the diversity of mitochondrial respiratory systems present in animals may help resolve the mechanisms involved in major evolutionary processes such as adaptation and speciation.
Space–time discontinuous Galerkin methods for the ε-dependent stochastic Allen–Cahn equation with mild noise
Authors: Antonopoulou Dimitra C 
Published: March 2019

AbstractWe consider the $\varepsilon $-dependent stochastic Allen–Cahn equation with mild space–time noise posed on a bounded domain of $\mathbb{R}^2$. The positive parameter $\varepsilon $ is a measure for the inner layers width that are generated during evolution. This equation, when the noise depends only on time, has been proposed by Funaki (1999, Singular limit for stochastic reaction–diffusion equation and generation of random interfaces. Acta Math. Sin., 15, 407–438). The noise, although smooth, becomes white on the sharp interface limit $\varepsilon \rightarrow 0^+$. We construct a nonlinear discontinous Galerkin scheme with space–time finite elements of general type that are discontinuous in time. Existence of a unique discrete solution is proven by application of Brouwer’s Theorem. We first derive abstract error estimates and then, for the case of piecewise polynomial finite elements, we prove an error in expectation of optimal order. All the appearing constants are estimated in terms of the parameter $\varepsilon $. Finally, we present a linear approximation of the nonlinear scheme, for which we prove existence of solution and optimal error in expectation in piecewise linear finite element spaces. The novelty of this work is based on the use of a finite element formulation in space and in time in $2+1$-dimensional subdomains for a nonlinear parabolic problem. In addition this problem involves noise. These types of schemes avoid any Runge–Kutta-type discretization for the evolutionary variable, and seem to be very effective when applied to equations of such a difficulty.
Control of Three Species of Stored-Product Insects in Wheat Treated With Steam and Hot Air
Authors: Divagar Darsana , Jian Fuji , Cenkowski Stefan 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
The effect of 105°C steam or hot air on adult mortality of three species of stored-product insect pests outside wheat kernels of 12.5, 14.5 and 16.5% moisture content was investigated. The species were Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae), and Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). In the case of S. oryzae, young adults and immature stages inside wheat kernels were also tested. The mortality of insects inside kernels was higher at lower moisture contents of wheat treated with hot air, whereas moisture content did not significantly affect mortality of insects treated with steam. In the hot air treatment, all adults of the three species outside kernels had 100% mortality when the treatment time was 75 s for wheat with 16.5% moisture content, and 60 s for 12.5 and 14.5% wheat. In the steam treatment, the time to reach 100% mortality of adults outside kernels was 1 s at any moisture content and without significantly affecting germination. The young adults and immature stages of S. oryzae inside kernels required 90 s to reach 100% mortality in hot air, whereas 3 s was needed in steam. The treatment to reach 100% mortality of insects inside kernels caused a 20% drop in germination in steam and 81% drop in hot air.
The Threshold GARCH Model: Estimation and Density Forecasting for Financial Returns*
Authors: Cai Yuzhi , Stander Julian 
Published: March 2019

AbstractWe consider multiple threshold value-at-risk (VaRt) estimation and density forecasting for financial data following a threshold GARCH model. We develop an α-quantile quasi-maximum likelihood estimation (QMLE) method for VaRt by showing that the associated density function is an α-quantile density and belongs to the tick-exponential family. This establishes that our estimator is consistent for the parameters of VaRt. We propose a density forecasting method for quantile models based on VaRt at a single nonextreme level, which overcomes some limitations of existing forecasting methods with quantile models. We find that for heavy-tailed financial data our α-quantile QMLE method for VaRt outperforms the Gaussian QMLE method for volatility. We also find that density forecasts based on VaRt outperform those based on the volatility of financial data. Empirical work on market returns shows that our approach also outperforms some benchmark models for density forecasting of financial returns.
Current Treatment Landscape of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Potential Trials Evaluating the Value of Immunotherapy
Authors: Le Quynh Thu , Colevas A Dimitrios , O’Sullivan Brian , Lee Anne W M , Lee Nancy , Ma Brigette , Siu Lillian L , Waldron John , Lim Chwee-Ming , Riaz Nadeem , Lynn Jean , Malik Shakun 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a type of head and neck cancer with a distinctive regional and racial prevalence. It is associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection and has a high propensity for regional and distant metastases, while it is very sensitive to radiation and chemotherapy. A common feature of Epstein-Barr virus-positive NPC is the dense infiltration of lymphocytes in the tumor stroma and positive programmed death-ligand 1 expression in tumor cells, making it an attractive target for immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors. As new immunotherapeutic agents are being rapidly adopted in many cancers, including head and neck cancer, the National Cancer Institute sponsored a clinical trial planning meeting to identify opportunities for developing phase II and III trials testing immunotherapy in different stages of NPC. The meeting started with the summary of the biology of the disease, current standards of care, and evidence of immunotherapy in this cancer. Three subcommittees were tasked to develop clinical trials: loco regionally advanced, nonmetastatic NPC; widely metastatic NPC; and either local recurrence after initial treatment or presenting with oligometastatic disease. This article summarizes the proceedings of this clinical trial planning meeting and provides a road map for future trials incorporating immune checkpoint inhibitors for therapeutic management of NPC. This road map, though specific for NPC, may also be applicable to other virally driven cancers that have similar ability to evade the host’s immune system.
Quantum Dots-Based Point-of-Care Measurement of Procalcitonin in Finger-Prick Blood and Venous Whole Blood Specimens
Authors: Tang Junming , Jiang Yan , Ge Zhijun , Wu Haifeng , Chen Huajun , Dai Ji , Gu Yinjie , Mao Xuhua , Lu Junjie 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Objective
To determine whether the performance of a new quantum dots–based point-of-care test (POCT) devices is qualified for procalcitonin testing.

Methods
Finger-prick and venous blood specimens from 153 patients were measured with a quantum dots–based POCT device; the results were compared with those from the reference method.

Results
The quantum dots–based POCT device correlated well with the reference method in measuring plasma, venous whole blood, and finger-prick blood. No significant bias was observed (−0.08 ng/mL). At 0.5 ng per mL cutoff value, the concordances were 96.6%, 94.6%, and 90.5% for plasma, venous whole blood, and finger-prick blood, respectively. And at 2 ng per mL cutoff value, the concordances were 98.0%, 96.6%, and 95.3%, respectively.

Conclusions
The quantum dots–based POCT device measured procalcitonin with multiple specimen types, high sensitivity, wide detection range, and short turnaround time. It would allow a more widespread use of procalcitonin and help lessen the burden of overcrowding in healthcare facilities in China.
The sub-Jupiter/Neptune desert of exoplanets: parameter dependent boundaries and implications on planet formation
Authors: Szabó Gy M , Kálmán Sz 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
The period–mass and period–radius distributions of exoplanets are known to exhibit a desert. Unlike the existence of very hot (Porb &lt; 3 d) super-Earths and hot Jupiters, no planets are known between super-Earths and sub-Jupiters with orbital periods as short as a day or two. In this letter, we show that the period boundary of this desert is dependent on stellar parameters (Teff, [M/H], log g in order of significance), there is conclusive dependence on the incident stellar irradiation, and dependence on the stellar mass acting only on planets around Teff &lt; 5600 K host stars. We found a significant lack of very inflated planets on the closest orbits to the host star. There is no significant dependence on tidal forces currently acting on the planet, the planet’s surface gravity, or current filling factor of the Roche lobe. These distributions are most compatible with the dominant role of photoevaporation in forming the desert.
DECIPHER pooled shRNA library screen identifies PP2A and FGFR signaling as potential therapeutic targets for diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas
Authors: Schramm Kathrin , Iskar Murat , Statz Britta , Jäger Natalie , Haag Daniel , Słabicki Mikołaj , Pfister Stefan M , Zapatka Marc , Gronych Jan , Jones David T W , Lichter Peter 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Background
Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) are highly aggressive pediatric brain tumors that are characterized by a recurrent mutation (K27M) within the histone H3 encoding genes H3F3A and HIST1H3A/B/C. These mutations have been shown to induce a global reduction in the repressive histone modification H3K27me3, which together with widespread changes in DNA methylation patterns results in an extensive transcriptional reprogramming hampering the identification of single therapeutic targets based on a molecular rationale.

Methods
We applied a large-scale gene knockdown approach using a pooled short hairpin (sh)RNA library in combination with next-generation sequencing in order to identify DIPG-specific vulnerabilities. The therapeutic potential of specific inhibitors of candidate targets was validated in a secondary drug screen.

Results
We identified fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling and the serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) as top depleted hits in patient-derived DIPG cell cultures and validated their lethal potential by FGF ligand depletion and genetic knockdown of the PP2A structural subunit PPP2R1A. Further, pharmacological inhibition of FGFR and PP2A signaling through ponatinib and LB-100 treatment, respectively, exhibited strong tumor-specific anti-proliferative and apoptotic activity in cultured DIPG cells.

Conclusions
Our findings suggest FGFR and PP2A signaling as potential new therapeutic targets for the treatment of DIPGs.
Perils of the Subjective Approach: A Critical Analysis of the UK National Crime Recording Standards
Authors: McFadzien Kent , Phillips John M 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
It is now more than 15 years since the Home Office introduced a standardized methodology for crime recording in the UK. The April 2018 edition of the Home Office Crime Recording Standards sets out six purposes, which continue to inform the broad aim of the standards. These purposes include: the provision of a high-quality service to crime victims; promoting effective and ethical investigations; accurately informing the public about the risk of crime; and supporting police management and national policy development. These relatively lofty objectives might fairly be considered the success criteria against which the standards themselves can reasonably be judged. This article turns a critical eye to the performance of the existing regime against each objective in turn. In several key areas, it suggests that the crime recording standards have actually been counter-productive in application and now threaten both police efficiency and police legitimacy.
Competing Teams
Authors: Chade Hector , Eeckhout Jan 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
In many economic applications of matching, the teams that form compete later in market structures with strategic interactions or with knowledge spillovers. Such post-match competition introduces externalities at the matching stage: a team’s payoff depends not only on their members’ attributes but also on those of other matched teams. This article develops a large market model of matching with externalities, in which first teams form, and then they compete. We analyse the sorting patterns that ensue under competitive equilibrium as well as their efficiency properties. Our main results show that insights substantially differ from those of the standard model without externalities: there can be multiple competitive equilibria with different sorting patterns; both optimal and competitive equilibrium matching can involve randomization; and competitive equilibrium can be inefficient with a matching that can drastically deviate from the optimal one. We also shed light on the economic relevance of our matching model with externalities. We analyse two economic applications that illustrate how our model can rationalize the trend in within- and between-firm inequality, and also the evolution of markups of sectors where firms have market power.
Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis
Authors: Foong Ru-Xin , Giovannini Mattia , du Toit George 
Published: March 2019

Purpose of reviewThe following article provides an overview of food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FD-EIAn). The review focuses on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical findings of FD-EIAn and details current practice in terms of the investigation, management, and treatment options available.Recent findingsThe management of FD-EIAn has not changed significantly over the last few years and still requires careful investigation by an experienced clinician to ensure that the correct diagnosis is made and appropriate treatment is given. Although new therapies such as synthetic prostaglandin E1 analogs and IgE monoclonal antibodies have been trialed as treatment options for FD-EIAn, the mainstay of treatment remains the graded reintroduction to exercise in a supervised setting.SummaryFD-EIAn is a rare but serious condition that can have a significant impact on patients’ lives. This review aims to discuss new relevant research into this field to help guide clinicians in managing this condition.