bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modelling the Antarctic Ice Sheet across the mid-Pleistocene transition – implications for Oldest Ice
Authors: Sutter Johannes , Fischer Hubertus , Grosfeld Klaus , Karlsson Nanna B. , Kleiner Thomas , Van Liefferinge Brice , Eisen Olaf 
Published: July 2019

Abstract. The international endeavour to retrieve a continuous ice core, which spans the middle Pleistocene climate transition ca. 1.2–0.9 Myr ago, encompasses a multitude of field and model-based pre-site surveys. We expand on the current efforts to locate a suitable drilling site for the oldest Antarctic ice core by means of 3-D continental ice-sheet modelling. To this end, we present an ensemble of ice-sheet simulations spanning the last 2 Myr, employing transient boundary conditions derived from climate modelling and climate proxy records. We discuss the imprint of changing climate conditions, sea level and geothermal heat flux on the ice thickness, and basal conditions around previously identified sites with continuous records of old ice. Our modelling results show a range of configurational ice-sheet changes across the middle Pleistocene transition, suggesting a potential shift of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to a marine-based configuration. Despite the middle Pleistocene climate reorganisation and associated ice-dynamic changes, we identify several regions conducive to conditions maintaining 1.5 Myr (million years) old ice, particularly around Dome Fuji, Dome C and Ridge B, which is in agreement with previous studies. This finding strengthens the notion that continuous records with such old ice do exist in previously identified regions, while we are also providing a dynamic continental ice-sheet context.
Testing Absolute vs Relative Simultaneity with the Spin-orbit Interaction and the Sagnac Effect
Authors: Spavieri Gianfranco , Rodriguez Miguel , Sanchez Arturo 
Published: July 2019

All the experiments supporting special relativity (SR) formulated with Einstein synchronization support as well SR with absolute synchronization, if the corresponding coordinate transformations foresee time dilation and length contraction. We first test absolute vs relative simultaneity with a non-relativistic model of the spin-orbit interaction by taking into account either the effect of the electron hidden momentum or the relativistic effect of the Thomas precession, based on
non-conservation of simultaneity. As second test, we consider a thought experiment equivalent to the Sagnac effect, where a clock measures the time taken by a counter-propagating light signal to perform a round trip on a closed path. While these experiments are coherently described with absolute simultaneity, the result of our tests points out inconsistencies in the case of relative simultaneity, thus favoring the formulation of SR with absolute synchronization, while advocating that
further research and tests on simultaneity are needed for the comprehension of relativistic theories.
Effectiveness of mini-open carpal tunnel release: An outcome study
Authors: van den Broeke Lieselotte R. , Theuvenet Willem. J. , van Wingerden Jan. J. 
Published: July 2019

Background Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral entrapment neuropathy with a high morbidity and healthcare-related costs. Currently there is no consensus about the best treatment option. The purpose of this prospective cohort study conducted at a single institution was to evaluate the clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction following a mini-open carpal tunnel release for idiopathic CTS.
Methods A total of 72 patients (53 female and 19 male patients; mean age, 57.8±15.3 years; range, 24–94 years) had a mini-open carpal tunnel release performed by a single senior surgeon between June 2015 and June 2016. The patients were evaluated preoperatively, and at 3 and 12 months post-intervention. At every follow-up, the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTSQ) and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for pain and satisfaction were completed. Digital sensibility (using Semmes- Weinstein monofilaments) was assessed and pinch and grip strengths were measured.
Results Statistically significant and clinically relevant improvement was found in terms of digital sensibility, grip and pinch strength (except for 2-point pinch), BCTSQ scores and pain scores. The complication rate was minimal, and no major complications occurred. Two patients experienced recurrence. The availability of follow-up records (including patient-reported outcomes, BCTSQ and VAS scores, and the complication rate) at 1-year post-intervention varied between 69% and 74% (50–53 patients) depending on which parameter was assessed. Patient satisfaction was high (mean, 80.9±26.0; range, 0–100).
Conclusions This study demonstrates that mini-incision carpal tunnel release is clinically effective in the short and long term.
A novel photonumeric hand grading scale for hand rejuvenation
Authors: Lee Jong Hun , Choi Yean Su , Park Eun Soo , Kim Jong Seo , Kang Moon Seok , Oh Hwa Young , Yang So Dam , Jeon Seon Hui 
Published: July 2019

Background Few scales are currently available to evaluate changes in hand volume. We aimed to develop a hand grading scale for quantitative assessments of dorsal hand volume with additional consideration of changes in skin texture; to validate and prove the precision and reproducibility of the new scale; and to demonstrate the presence of clinically significant differences between grades on the scale.
Methods Five experienced plastic surgeons developed the Hand Volume Rating Scale (HVRS) and rated 91 images. Another five plastic surgeons validated the scale using 50 randomly selected images. Intra- and inter-rater agreement was calculated using the weighted kappa statistic and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Paired images were also evaluated to verify whether the scale reflected clinical differences.
Results The intra-rater agreement was 0.95 (95% confidence interval, 0.922–0.974). The interrater ICCs were excellent (first rating, 0.94; second rating, 0.94). Image pairs that differed by 1, 2, and 3 grades were considered to contain clinically relevant differences in 80%, 100%, and 100% of cases, respectively, while 84% of image pairs of the same grade were found not to show clinically relevant differences. This confirmed that the scale of the HVRS corresponded to clinically relevant distinctions.
Conclusions The scale was proven to be precise, reproducible, and reflective of clinical differences.
RITAN: rapid integration of term annotation and network resources
Authors: Zimmermann Michael T. , Kabat Brian , Grill Diane E. , Kennedy Richard B. , Poland Gregory A. 
Published: July 2019

Background
Identifying the biologic functions of groups of genes identified in high-throughput studies currently requires considerable time and/or bioinformatics experience. This is due in part to each resource housed within separate databases, requiring users to know about them, and integrate across them. Time consuming and often repeated for each study, integrating across resources and merging with data under study is an increasingly common bioinformatics task.

Methods
We developed an open-source R software package for assisting researchers in annotating their genesets with functions, pathways, and their interconnectivity across a diversity of network resources.

Results
We present rapid integration of term annotation and network resources (RITAN) for the rapid and comprehensive annotation of a list of genes using functional term and pathway resources and their relationships among each other using multiple network biology resources. Currently, and to comply with data redistribution policies, RITAN allows rapid access to 16 term annotations spanning gene ontology, biologic pathways, and immunologic modules, and nine network biology resources, with support for user-supplied resources; we provide recommendations for additional resources and scripts to facilitate their addition to RITAN. Having the resources together in the same system allows users to derive novel combinations. RITAN has a growing set of tools to explore the relationships within resources themselves. These tools allow users to merge resources together such that the merged annotations have a minimal overlap with one another. Because we index both function annotation and network interactions, the combination allows users to expand small groups of genes using links from biologic networks—either by adding all neighboring genes or by identifying genes that efficiently connect among input genes—followed by term enrichment to identify functions. That is, users can start from a core set of genes, identify interacting genes from biologic networks, and then identify the functions to which the expanded list of genes contribute.

Conclusion
We believe RITAN fills the important niche of bridging the results of high-throughput experiments with the ever-growing corpus of functional annotations and network biology resources.

Availability
Rapid integration of term annotation and network resources is available as an R package at github.com/MTZimmer/RITAN and BioConductor.org.
Evaluating the oestrogenic activities of aqueous root extract of Asparagus africanus Lam in female Sprague-Dawley rats and its phytochemical screening using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)
Authors: El-Ishaq Abubakar , Alshawsh Mohammed A. , Chik Zamri Bin 
Published: July 2019

Asparagus africanus Lam. is a plant used traditionally for natal care. This study evaluates the oestrogenic activities of aqueous root extract and screens for possible bioactive phytochemicals. Oestrogenicity of A. africanus was evaluated in ovariectomised rats treated with 50, 200, and 800 mg/kgBW doses twice daily for three days. Ethinyl estradiol (EE)1 mg/kg was used as positive control, and hormonal analysis and gene expression were carried out. The findings demonstrated that the extract produced a dose-dependent increase in the oestrogen levels with a significant increase compared to untreated rats. Pre-treatment with oestrogen receptor antagonist (ORA) prior to A. africanus treatment reversed the trend. Gene expression analysis on rats treated with 200 mg/kgBW A. africanus showed significant (p < 0.005) upregulation of oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα), while pre-treating animals with (ORA) significantly (p < 0.005) increased the expression of calbindin 3 (Calb3) in the EE group as compared to the untreated rats. The GC/MS results showed the presence of steroidal saponins such as stigmasterol and sarsasapogenin. These might be the bioactive constituents that exhibited these activities. The oestrogenic properties of A. africanus revealed in this study could contribute to the antifertility properties of the plant. However, further pharmacological studies are required to confirm the antifertility effect.
Proximate grassland and shrub-encroached sites show dramatic restructuring of soil bacterial communities
Authors: Xiang Xingjia , Gibbons Sean M. , Li He , Shen Haihua , Chu Haiyan 
Published: July 2019

Background
Changes in aboveground community composition and diversity following shrub encroachment have been studied extensively. Recently, shrub encroachment was associated with differences in belowground bacterial communities relative to non-encroached grassland sites hundreds of meters away. This spatial distance between grassland and shrub sites left open the question of how soil bacterial communities associated with different vegetation types might differ within the same plot location.

Methods
We examined soil bacterial communities between shrub-encroached and adjacent (one m apart) grassland soils in Chinese Inner Mongolian, using high-throughput sequencing method (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA).

Results
Shrub-encroached sites were associated with dramatic restructuring of soil bacterial community composition and predicted metabolic function, with significant increase in bacterial alpha-diversity. Moreover, bacterial phylogenic structures showed clustering in both shrub-encroached and grassland soils, suggesting that each vegetation type was associated with a unique and defined bacterial community by niche filtering. Finally, soil organic carbon (SOC) was the primary driver varied with shifts in soil bacterial community composition. The encroachment was associated with elevated SOC, suggesting that shrub-mediated shifts in SOC might be responsible for changes in belowground bacterial community.

Discussion
This study demonstrated that shrub-encroached soils were associated with dramatic restructuring of bacterial communities, suggesting that belowground bacterial communities appear to be sensitive indicators of vegetation type. Our study indicates that the increased shrub-encroached intensity in Inner Mongolia will likely trigger large-scale disruptions in both aboveground plant and belowground bacterial communities across the region.
The Role of Hemic Hypoxia in the Development of Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Children Associated with Hepatitis B
Authors: Islomov D. Sh. , Khadjimetov A. A. , Amonov E. Sh. 
Published: July 2019

Background: There are not enough studies and evidenced researches conducted related to this topic. Therefore, we studied fetal haemoglobin in various somatic diseases in children with sensorineural hearing loss associated with hepatitis B.
Materials and Methods: 26 children with sensorineural hearing loss associated with hepatitis B, aged from 5 to 18 years, were examined. The comparison group consisted of 8 children with sensorineural hearing loss without concomitant somatic pathology. The control group consisted of 12 healthy children. The compulsory examination plan for patients included generally accepted laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods: complete blood count, urine, feces, Wasserman reaction, ECG.
Results: Hb concentration in blood inpatient children with sensorineural hearing loss of the associated chronic hepatitis B (CHB) was reduced significantly by 58% compared with the healthy children. In children with Sensorineural Hearing Loss (CHT) without CHB, the studied parameter decreased when compared with healthy children by 25%. Analysis of the results showed a significant increase in the level of fetal haemoglobin in the blood of children with CHT associated with hepatitis B on average by 1.5 times, indicating hypoxia.
Conclusion: Dependence of the indices of partial oxygen in the blood and, to a greater extent, HbF, on the blood content of the vasoconstrictor endothelin-1, von Willebrand factor, indicates the pathogenetic significance of the leading markers of endothelial dysfunction in the development of tissue hypoxia in children with sensorineural hearing loss combined liver disease.
Antimicrobial Profile and Asymptomatic Urinary Tract Infections among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, Ghana
Authors: Fosu Kwabena , Quansah Elvis , Dadzie Isaac 
Published: July 2019

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) in pregnancy is associated with significant morbidity for both the mother and the baby. Proper investigation and prompt treatment are needed to prevent the serious life-threatening condition and morbidity associated with UTI in pregnant women.
Aim: This study was designed to detect common uropathogens and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern among asymptomatic pregnant women attending antenatal care in the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital.
Methodology: Mid-stream urine samples were collected from 200 individuals and inoculated onto cysteine lactose electrolyte deficient (CLED) agar media. Colony counts yielding bacterial growth of ≥ 105 CFU /ml was regarded as significant bacteriuria. Pure isolates of bacterial pathogens were characterized by colony morphology, Gram-stain and standard biochemical procedures. Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method was used for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of all identified isolates.
Results: The overall prevalence of bacteria-associated asymptomatic UTI was 17.5%. Escherichia coli (42.9%) was the most isolated organism followed by Staphylococcus aureus (34.3%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (11.4%), Staphylococcus saprophyticoccus (5.7%) and Proteus mirabilis 2 (5.7%). Yeast cells and Schistosoma haematobium were also recorded in 2% of the women. Isolates showed significant sensitivity to commercially prepared antibiotic discs. However, higher level of resistance was recorded with tetracycline, nitrofurantoin and nalidixic acid.
Conclusion: Early screening for UTI should be done for all pregnant women and those found to be infected need to be treated with appropriate antimicrobial agents to avoid complications.
Ultrahigh Thermoelectric Performance Realized in Black Phosphorus System by Favorable Band Engineering through Group VA Doping
Authors: Duan Shuai , Cui Yangfan , Chen Xin , Yi Wencai , Liu Yunxian , Liu Xiaobing 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBlack phosphorus (BP) has emerged as a promising thermoelectric candidate because of its strong electronic and thermal anisotropy, suggesting a large σ/κ ratio can be realized by controlling carrier transport orientation for a potentially high ZT. Nevertheless, to date, low conversion efficiency (ZT ≈0.08, 300 K) and poor stability of BP remain the major issues that have hampered its practical applications. This work reports a material family in simple composition XP7, XP3, and XP (X = N, As, Sb, Bi) with high‐performance thermoelectric properties by first‐principles calculations. Strikingly, an ultrahigh ZT up to 1.21 at 300 K is achieved in p‐type BiP7 with an optimal carrier concentration of 5.48 × 1019 cm−3 and ZT in n‐type NP3 can reach up to ≈0.87 at the electron concentration of 3.67 × 1019 cm−3 along the zigzag direction, owing to their enhanced density of states and multivalley band structures around the Fermi level through the resonant effects of VA guest and host atoms. Additionally, the calculations demonstrate further improvement in thermoelectric performance of pristine BP by ≈4.8 and 4.5 times at 800 K in p‐type NP and n‐type NP3, respectively. Considering the high stability, current results indicate that N–P based systems are highly promising for novel metal‐free, nontoxic, and ultralight thermoelectrics.
Multiscale Experimental and Computational Modeling Approaches to Characterize Therapy Delivery to the Heart from an Implantable Epicardial Biomaterial Reservoir
Authors: Shirazi Reyhaneh Neghabat , Islam Shahrin , Weafer Fiona M. , Whyte William , Varela Claudia E. , Villanyi Agnes , Ronan William , McHugh Peter , Roche Ellen T. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractDelivery of therapeutic‐laden biomaterials to the epicardial surface of the heart presents a promising method of treating a variety of diseased conditions by offering targeted, localized release with limited systemic recirculation and enhanced myocardial tissue uptake. A vast range of biomaterials and therapeutic agents using this approach been investigated. However, the fundamental factors that govern transport of the drug molecules from the biomaterials to the tissue are not well understood. Here, the transport of a drug analog from a biomaterial reservoir to the epicardial surface is characterized using experimental techniques and microscale modeling. Using the experimentally determined parameters, a multiscale model of transport is developed. The model is then used to study the effect of important design parameters such as loading conditions, biomaterial geometry, and orientation relative to the cardiac fibers on drug delivery to the myocardium. The simulations highlight the significance of the cardiac fiber anisotropy as a crucial factor in governing drug distribution on the epicardial surface and limiting factor for penetration into the myocardium. The multiscale model can be useful for rapid iteration of different device concepts and for determination of designs for epicardial drug delivery that may be optimal and most promising for the ultimate therapeutic goal.
Anti‐CD19 chimeric antigen receptor‐modified T‐cell therapy bridging to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for relapsed/refractory B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: An open‐label pragmatic clinical trial
Authors: Jiang Huiwen , Li Chenggong , Yin Ping , Guo Tao , Liu Lin , Xia Linghui , Wu Yaohui , Zhou Fen , Ai Lisha , Shi Wei , Lu Xuan , Wang Huafang , Tang Lu , Wei Qiuzhe , Deng Jun , Jin Runming , Xiong Wei , Dong Jian , Mei Heng , Hu Yu 
Published: July 2019

AbstractChimeric antigen receptor‐modified T‐cell (CAR‐T) therapy is effective and safe for patients with relapsed/refractory B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r B‐ALL), but its value has been limited in terms of long‐term leukemia‐free survival. New strategies that can help CAR‐T therapy achieve lasting effect are urgently warranted. This non‐randomized interventional pragmatic clinical trial had a particular aim. It explored whether consolidative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT) could improve the long‐term prognosis of the minimal residual disease‐negative complete remission (MRD− CR) patients after CAR‐T therapy. In the first stage, 58 r/r B‐ALL patients received split doses of CAR‐T cells after lymphodepleting chemotherapy, and 51 (87.9%) achieved CR. In the second stage, 21/47 MRD− CR patients without previous allo‐HSCT and contraindications or other restrictions, on their own accord, received consolidative allo‐HSCT within three months after CAR‐T therapy. There was no difference in overall survival (OS) between the MRD− CR patients who received allo‐HSCT and those who did not. However, event‐free survival (EFS) and relapse‐free survival (RFS) were significantly prolonged by allo‐HSCT in the subgroups. This was with either high (≥5%) pre‐infusion bone marrow MRD assessed by flow cytometry (BM‐FCM‐MRD) or poor prognostic markers (P < .05). However, no difference was found in EFS and RFS for patients with pre‐infusion BM‐FCM‐MRD <5% and without poor prognostic markers (P > .05). To conclude, CAR‐T therapy bridging to allo‐HSCT is a safe and effective therapeutic strategy for r/r B‐ALL patients, and may prolong their EFS and RFS, especially when they have high pre‐infusion BM‐FCM‐MRD or poor prognostic markers.