bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Validity, Reliability, and Responsiveness of the Spanish Version of the OPTIMAL Instrument
Authors: Pinto‐Carral Arrate , Fernández‐Villa Tania , Guccione Andrew A. , Cuadrado Federico Montero , Cancela José Mᵃ , Molina Antonio José 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe Outpatient Physical Therapy Improvement in Movement Assessment Log (OPTIMAL) is a self‐report instrument developed to measure the ability to perform mobility actions.ObjectiveTo validate a Spanish version of the OPTIMAL instrument.DesignCross‐cultural adaptation and validation study.SettingPrimary and specialized outpatient care settings.ParticipantsThree hundred seven patients beginning physical therapy treatment and 30 subjects from the general population.MethodsA 2‐part study was designed based on guidelines for cultural adaptation of patient‐reported outcome measures.OutcomesReliability was estimated by internal consistency (Cronbach α), SE of measurement, and test‐retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient) at 2 weeks. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to examine structural validity. The association with the Physical Functioning Subscale was assessed with Spearman correlation coefficients. OPTIMAL scores across different groups were compared with Mann‐Whitney U and Kruskal‐Wallis tests. Effect size, standardized response mean, and minimal detectable change were determined for responsiveness.ResultsThe Spanish version of the OPTIMAL instrument showed a similar structure to the original English questionnaire. Cronbach α was 0.95 for the difficulty and confidence scales. Intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.91 (95% CI 0.87‐0.94) for the difficulty scale and 0.90 (95% CI 0.85‐0.93) for the confidence scale. The SE of measurement was 5.11 for the difficulty scale and 6.54 for the confidence scale. The association with the Physical Functioning Subscale was strong and significant (P < .001). The 2 scales showed significantly different scores for each of the established patient groups. The effect size was 0.61 (95% CI 0.48‐0.74) for the difficulty scale and 0.53 (95% CI 0.38‐0.69) for the confidence scale. The standardized response mean was 0.97 (95% CI 0.78‐1.13) for the difficulty scale and 0.76 (95% CI 0.48‐1.01) for the confidence scale. The minimal detectable change, of a possible score of 100, was 14.2 for the difficulty scale and 18.1 for the confidence scale.ConclusionThe Spanish version of the OPTIMAL has appropriate reliability, validity, and responsiveness and it is an adequate self‐report instrument for the assessment of mobility actions.Level of EvidenceIII
PORTFOLIO ALLOCATION AS THE PRESIDENT'S CALCULATIONS: LOYALTY, COPARTISANSHIP, AND POLITICAL CONTEXT IN SOUTH KOREA
Authors: Lee Don S. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractHow do the president's calculations in achieving policy goals shape the allocation of cabinet portfolios? Despite the growing literature on presidential cabinet appointments, this question has barely been addressed. I argue that cabinet appointments are strongly affected not only by presidential incentives to effectively deliver their key policy commitments but also by their interest in having their administration maintain strong political leverage. Through an analysis of portfolio allocations in South Korea after democratization, I demonstrate that the posts wherein ministers can influence the government's overall reputation typically go to nonpartisan professionals ideologically aligned with presidents, while the posts wherein ministers can exert legislators' influence generally go to senior copartisans. My findings highlight a critical difference in presidential portfolio allocation from parliamentary democracies, where key posts tend to be reserved for senior parliamentarians from the ruling party.
Temperature gradient driven heat flux closure in fluid simulations of collisionless reconnection
Authors: Allmann-Rahn F. , Trost T. , Grauer R. 
Published: June 2018

Recent efforts to include kinetic effects in fluid simulations of plasmas have been very promising. Concerning collisionless magnetic reconnection, it has been found before that damping of the pressure tensor to isotropy leads to good agreement with kinetic runs in certain scenarios. An accurate representation of kinetic effects in reconnection was achieved in a study by Wang et al. (Phys. Plasmas, vol. 22, 2015, 012108) with a closure derived from earlier work by Hammett and Perkins (Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 64, 1990, 3019). Here, their approach is analysed on the basis of heat flux data from a Vlasov simulation. As a result, we propose a new local closure in which heat flux is driven by temperature gradients. This way, a more realistic approximation of Landau damping in the collisionless regime is achieved. Previous issues are addressed and the agreement with kinetic simulations in different reconnection set-ups is improved significantly. To the authors’ knowledge, the new fluid model is the first to perform well in simulations of the coalescence of large magnetic islands.
Self-supervised free space estimation in outdoor terrain
Authors: Harakeh Ali , Asmar Daniel , Shammas Elie 
Published: June 2018

SUMMARYThe ability to reliably estimate free space is an essential requirement for efficient and safe robot navigation. This paper presents a novel system, built upon a stochastic framework, which estimates free space quickly from stereo data, using self-supervised learning. The system relies on geometric data in the close range of the robot to train a second-stage appearance-based classifier for long range areas in a scene. Experiments are conducted on board an unmanned ground vehicle, and the results demonstrate the advantages of the proposed technique over other self-supervised systems.
Early onset and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in young monosodium l-glutamate-induced obese mice
Authors: Coelho C. F. F. , França L. M. , Nascimento J. R. , dos Santos A. M. , Azevedo-Santos A. P. S. , Nascimento F. R. F. , Paes A. M. A. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractMonosodium l-glutamate (MSG)-induced obesity is a useful model for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) studies. However, there is limited data on its initiation and progression. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the onset of metabolic and histopathological features of NAFLD and its progression to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in this model. To perform this study, Swiss mice pups were neonatally injected with MSG (4 g/kg/day, s.c.) or equiosmolar saline and followed up to 60, 120 or 180 days old. At each age, blood, liver, as well as periepididymal and retroperitoneal fat pads were collected for morphometric, biochemical and histological analyses, the later according to NAFLD activity score. MSG mice presented hypertriglyceridemia and central obesity at all ages, but peripheral insulin-resistance was verified only in 120- and 180-day-old mice. Hepatic total fat and triglycerides content were higher in MSG mice at all ages. Accordingly, histopathological analysis showed that 60-day-old MSG mice had microvesicular steatosis with occasional ballooning, which evolved into NASH from 120 days old. Retroperitoneal fat accumulation was the only variable to independently correlate with NAFLD activity total score upon multivariate analysis (R
2=71.45%). There were no differences in IL-6 and TNF-α serum levels among groups. Overall, this study shows that NAFLD is a precocious outcome in MSG-obese mice, whereas the period comprised between 60 and 120 days old seems to be a crucial metabolic window for comprehending pathophysiological events involved in NAFLD-to-NASH progression in this model.
Drop Size Distribution Characteristics of Seven Typhoons in China
Authors: Wen Long , Zhao Kun , Chen Gang , Wang Mingjun , Zhou Bowen , Huang Hao , Hu Dongming , Lee Wen‐Chau , Hu Hanfeng 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThis study is the first attempt to investigate the characteristics of the drop size distribution (DSD) and drop shape relation (DSR) of seven typhoons after making landfall in China. Four typhoons were sampled by a C‐band polarimetric radar (CPOL) and a two‐dimensional video disdrometer (2DVD) in Jiangsu Province (East China) while three typhoons were sampled by two 2DVDs in Guangdong Province (south China). Although the DSD and DSR are different in individual typhoons, the computed DSD parameters in these two groups of typhoons possess similar characteristics. The DSR is more spherical, and the shape‐slope (μ‐Λ) relation has a significantly lower value of μ for a given Λ than that in typhoons in the Taiwan area, indicating different microphysical processes of typhoons between continental China and other regions (western Pacific and Atlantic). The convective precipitation of typhoons contains higher raindrop concentration and lower raindrop diameter than that of the maritime convection. A Z (reflectivity factor)‐R (rain rate) relationship, Z = 147.28R1.38, is derived for typhoons over land in China. The contoured frequency by altitude diagrams of CPOL polarimeteric parameters and the vertical distributions of hydrometeors and retrieved DSD parameters are further investigated to better reveal the microphysical processes of two typhoons (Matmo and Soudelor). Despite the differences in DSDs and polarimetric parameters, microphysical characteristics in both typhoons are similar. The CPOL‐derived microphysical properties, in conjunction with high freezing level, suggest that warm rain accretion processes dominate typhoon rainfall after landfall in China.
Neotectonics of the Big Sur Bend, San Gregorio‐Hosgri Fault System, Central California
Authors: Johnson Samuel Y. , Watt Janet T. , Hartwell Steven R. , Kluesner Jared W. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe right‐lateral San Gregorio‐Hosgri fault system (SGHF) extends mainly offshore for about 400 km along the central California coast and is a major structure in the distributed transform margin of western North America. We mapped a poorly known 64‐km‐long section of the SGHF offshore Big Sur between Piedras Blancas and Point Sur using high‐resolution bathymetry, seismic reflection, and marine magnetic data. In this region, the SGHF is characterized by multiple strands, step overs, scarps and lineaments, shutter ridges, deflected drainages, and other geomorphic features consistent with strike‐slip faulting. Analysis of offset shelfbreak gullies suggest a lateral slip rate of about 3.35 mm/year. Vertical slip rates range as high as 0.8 to 1.2 mm/year. Lateral slip combined with high vertical slip rates result in a northwest decrease in shelf width, a northward increase in shelf and upper slope gradient, and progressive incision of submarine canyon heads. The SGHF between Point Sur and Piedras Blancas trends ~321° and forms a 105‐km‐long transpressive bend (theBig Sur Bend) between more north trending transtensional fault sections to the south (120 km long, ~336° trend) and north (180 km long, ~337° trend). This transpressional bend and SGHF splay faults have had a significant role in shaping the modern geomorphology of the central California coast, controlling or influencing the locations of mountainous uplifts, large coastal headlands, embayments, and rivers.
The Aspirin Regimens in Essential Thrombocythemia (ARES) phase II randomized trial design: Implementation of the serum thromboxane B2 assay as an evaluation tool of different aspirin dosing regimens in the clinical setting
Authors: De Stefano Valerio , Rocca Bianca , Tosetto Alberto , Soldati Denise , Petrucci Giovanna , Beggiato Eloise , Bertozzi Irene , Betti Silvia , Carli Giuseppe , Carpenedo Monica , Cattaneo Daniele , Cavalca Viviana , Dragani Alfredo , Elli Elena , Finazzi Guido , Iurlo Alessandra , Lanzarone Giuseppe , Lissandrini Laura , Palandri Francesca , Paoli Chiara , Rambaldi Alessandro , Ranalli Paola , Randi Maria Luigia , Ricco Alessandra , Rossi Elena , Ruggeri Marco , Specchia Giorgina , Timillero Andrea , Turnu Linda , Vianelli Nicola , Vannucchi Alessandro M. , Rodeghiero Francesco , Patrono Carlo 
Published: June 2018

AbstractOnce-daily (od), low-dose aspirin (75–100 mg) is recommended to reduce the thrombotic risk of patients with essential thrombocytemia (ET). This practice is based on data extrapolated from other high-risk patients and an aspirin trial in polycythemia vera, with the assumption of similar aspirin pharmacodynamics in the two settings. However, the pharmacodynamics of low-dose aspirin is impaired in ET, reflecting accelerated renewal of platelet cyclooxygenase (COX)-1. ARES is a parallel-arm, placebo-controlled, randomized, dose-finding, phase II trial enrolling 300 ET patients to address two main questions. First, whether twice or three times 100 mg aspirin daily dosing is superior to the standard od regimen in inhibiting platelet thromboxane (TX)A2 production, without inhibiting vascular prostacyclin biosynthesis. Second, whether long-term persistence of superior biochemical efficacy can be safely maintained with multiple vs. single dosing aspirin regimen. Considering that the primary study end point is serum TXB2, a surrogate biomarker of clinical efficacy, a preliminary exercise of reproducibility and validation of this biomarker across all the 11 participating centers was implemented. The results of this preliminary phase demonstrate the importance of controlling reproducibility of biomarkers in multicenter trials and the feasibility of using serum TXB2 as a reliable end point for dose-finding studies of novel aspirin regimens.
Validation of Common Housekeeping Genes as Reference for qPCR Gene Expression Analysis During iPS Reprogramming Process
Authors: Panina Yulia , Germond Arno , Masui Shinji , Watanabe Tomonobu M. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractInduced pluripotent stem cell (iPS) reprogramming allows to turn a differentiated somatic cell into a pluripotent cell. This process is accompanied by many changes in fundamental cell properties, such as energy production, cell-to-cell interactions, cytoskeletal organization, and others. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) can be used as a quantitative method of gene expression analysis to investigate iPS reprogramming but it requires a validation of reference genes for the accurate assessment of target genes’ expression. Currently, studies evaluating the performance of reference genes during iPS reprogramming are lacking. In this study we analysed the stability of 12 housekeeping genes during 20 days of iPS reprogramming of murine cells based on statistical analyses of RT-qPCR data using five different statistical algorithms. This study reports strong variations in housekeeping gene stability during the reprogramming process. Most stable genes were Atp5f1, Pgk1 and Gapdh, while the least stable genes were Rps18, Hprt, Tbp and Actb. The results were validated by a proof-of-point qPCR experiment with pluripotent markers Nanog, Rex1 and Oct4 normalized to the best and the worst reference gene identified by the analyses. Overall, this study and its implications are particularly relevant to investigations on the cell-state and pluripotency in iPS reprogramming.
Element substitution of kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 for efficient counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Lu Shuang , Yang Huanying , Li Fei , Wang Yinglin , Chen Shixin , Yang Guochun , Liu Yichun , Zhang Xintong 
Published: June 2018

AbstractDevelopment of cost-effective counter electrode (CE) materials is a key issue for practical applications of photoelectrochemical solar energy conversion. Kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) has been recognized as a potential CE material, but its electrocatalytic activity is still insufficient for the recovery of I−/I3− electrolyte in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Herein, we attempt to enhance the electrocatalytic activity of kesterite CZTS through element substitution of Zn2+ by Co2+ and Ni2+ cations, considering their high catalytic activity, as well as their similar atomic radius and electron configuration with Zn2+. The Cu2CoSnS4 (CCTS) and Cu2NiSnS4 (CNTS) CEs exhibit smaller charge-transfer resistance and reasonable power conversion efficiency (PCE) (CCTS, 8.3%; CNTS, 8.2%), comparable to that of Pt (8.3%). In contrast, the CZTS-based DSSCs only generate a PCE of 7.9%. Density functional theory calculation indicate that the enhanced catalytic performance is associated to the adsorption and desorption energy of iodine atom on the Co2+ and Ni2+. In addition, the stability of CCTS and CNTS CEs toward electrolyte is also significantly improved as evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy characterizations. These results thus suggest the effectiveness of the element substitution strategy for developing high-performance CE from the developed materials, particularly for multicomponent compounds.
Temperature-dependent cell death patterns induced by functionalized gold nanoparticle photothermal therapy in melanoma cells
Authors: Zhang Yujuan , Zhan Xuelin , Xiong Juan , Peng Shanshan , Huang Wei , Joshi Rakesh , Cai Ying , Liu Yanling , Li Rong , Yuan Keng , Zhou Nanjin , Min Weiping 
Published: June 2018

AbstractPhotothermal therapy (PTT) is a promising approach for cancer targeting therapy. However, the temperature-dependent killing of tumor cells in PTT remains unclear. In this study, we report necroptosis plays a role in the anti-tumor effects observed in gold nanorod (GNR)-mediated PTT in melanoma. We first synthesized gold nanorods with a targeting adaptor FA (GNRs-FA), which achieved high efficacy of targeted delivery to melanoma cells. We further demonstrated PTT, precipitated by GNRs-FA under the induction of near-infrared laser, was temperature-dependent. Furthermore, the photothermal killing of melanoma cells showed different patterns of cell death depending on varying temperature in PTT. In a lower temperature at 43 °C, the percentages of apoptosis, necroptosis and necrosis of tumor cells were 10.2%, 18.3%, and 17.6%, respectively, suggesting the cell killing is ineffective at lower temperatures. When the temperature increased to 49 °C, the cell death pattern switched to necrosis dominant (52.8%). Interestingly, when the PTT achieved a moderate temperature of 46 °C, necroptosis was significantly increased (35.1%). Additionally, GNRs-FA/PPT-mediated necroptosis was regulated by RIPK1 pathway. Taken together, this study is the first to demonstrate that temperature-dependent necroptosis is an important mechanism of inducing melanoma cell death in GNR-mediated PTT in addition to apoptosis and necrosis.
The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios predict efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with metastatic triple negative breast cancer
Authors: Vernieri Claudio , Mennitto Alessia , Prisciandaro Michele , Huber Veronica , Milano Monica , Rinaldi Lucia , Cona Maria Silvia , Maggi Claudia , Ferrari Benvenuto , Manoukian Siranoush , Mariani Gabriella , Bianchi Giulia , Capri Giuseppe , Rivoltini Licia , de Braud Filippo 
Published: June 2018

AbstractPlatinum salts are active against metastatic triple negative breast cancer (mTNBC), and biomarkers to predict their effectiveness are urgently needed. In recent years, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have emerged as prognostic biomarkers in many malignancies, but their predictive role in platinum-treated mTNBC patients remains unexplored. We performed a retrospective, single centre study to evaluate the association between baseline NLR or PLR and progression free survival (PFS) of mTNBC patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. As a control population, we analysed data from patients with hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative (HR+ HER2−) metastatic breast cancer. Among 57 mTNBC patients treated with the carboplatin-paclitaxel or carboplatin-gemcitabine combination, high NLR and PLR were associated with significantly lower PFS at both univariate and multivariable analysis. Conversely, we did not find a significant association between NLR or PLR and the PFS of 148 patients in the control population. Our findings suggest that the NLR and PLR are predictive of benefit from platinum-containing chemotherapy specifically in mTNBC patients. If validated in larger prospective studies, these easy-to-measure parameters could be combined with emerging predictive biomarkers, such as BRCA 1/2 mutations, to improve the selection of mTNBC patients more likely to benefit from platinum-based chemotherapy.
Connecting the nervous and the immune systems in evolution
Authors: Hartenstein Volker , Giangrande Angela 
Published: June 2018

AbstractDespite their great importance for biomedical research, the intricate network of relationships between macro- and microglia, in terms of development, function and evolution, remains poorly understood. Drawing inspiration from the recent meeting “Of Glia and Microglia”, held at the University of Strasbourg in December 2017, we here discuss the outstanding questions in the seemingly disparate fields of glial development, physiology and evolution, and also provide suggestions for how the field should move forward.
Temperature gradient in the solar photosphere. Test of a new spectroscopic method and study of its feasibility for ground-based telescopes
Authors: Faurobert M. , Carbillet M. , Marquis L. , Chiavassa A. , Ricort G. 
Published: June 2018

Context. The contribution of quiet-Sun regions to the solar irradiance variability is currently unclear. Some solar-cycle variations of the quiet-Sun physical structure, such as the temperature gradient, might affect the irradiance. The synoptic measurement of this quantity along the activity cycle would improve our understanding of long-term irradiance variations.Aims. We intend to test a method previously introduced for measuring the photospheric temperature gradient from high-resolution spectroscopic observation and to study its feasibility with ground-based instruments with and without adaptative optics.Methods. We used synthetic profiles of the FeI 630.15 nm obtained from realistic three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of the photospheric granulation and line radiative transfer computations under local thermodynamical equilibrium conditions. Synthetic granulation images at different levels in the line are obtained by convolution with the instrumental point spread function (PSF) under various conditions of atmospheric turbulence, with and without correction by an adaptative optics (AO) system. The PSF are obtained with the PAOLA software, and the AO performances are inspired by the system that will be operating on theDaniel K. InouyeSolar Telescope.Results. We consider two different conditions of atmospheric turbulence, with Fried parameters of 7 cm and 5 cm, respectively. We show that the degraded images lead to both a bias and a loss of precision in the temperature-gradient measurement, and that the correction with the AO system allows us to drastically improve the measurement quality.Conclusions. Long-term synoptic observations of the temperature gradient in the solar photosphere can be undertaken by implementing this method on ground-based solar telescopes that are equipped with an AO correction system.
WCC 2017-C-103: Emergency Surgical Retrieval of Embolized Atrial Septal Defect Closure Device from Left Atrium
Authors: Dontineni Praveen , Mishra Ramesh , Malempati Amaresh 
Published: June 2018

AbstractWith the introduction of technological improvements, invasive cardiologic interventions have become increasingly used alternatives to surgery. Despite its numerous benefits, serious and potentially life-threatening complications of invasive cardiology interventions may occur. Atrial septal defect is usually closed in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory using atrial septal occluder (ASO) device. One of the complications associated with the procedure is dislodgement of the device. We present a case of percutaneous trans catheter closure of an ostium secundum atrial septal defect in a 21 years old female, complicated by device dislodgement to the left atrium necessitating emergency surgical retrieval.