bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A novel use of value iteration for deriving bounds for threshold and switching curve optimal policies
Authors: Ertiningsih Dwi , Bhulai Sandjai , Spieksma Flora 
Published: December 2018

AbstractIn this article, we develop a novel role for the initial function v0 in the value iteration algorithm. In case the optimal policy of a countable state Markovian queueing control problem has a threshold or switching curve structure, we conjecture, that one can tune the choice of v0 to generate monotonic sequences of n‐stage threshold or switching curve optimal policies. We will show this for three queueing control models, the M/M/1 queue with admission and with service control, and the two‐competing queues model with quadratic holding cost. As a consequence, we obtain increasingly tighter upper and lower bounds. After a finite number of iterations, either the optimal threshold, or the optimal switching curve values in a finite number of states is available. This procedure can be used to increase numerical efficiency.
Interfacial crosslinking of self‐assembled triblock copolymer nanoparticles via alkoxysilane hydrolysis and condensation
Authors: Teo Guo Hui , Zetterlund Per B. , Thickett Stuart C. 
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACTThe use of amphiphilic triblock copolymers bearing a reactive alkoxysilane middle block as polymeric stabilizers is reported in this work. A series of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate‐b‐(3‐trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate‐b‐benzyl methacrylate (PEGMA‐b‐MPS‐b‐BzMA) triblock copolymers were prepared by RAFT solution polymerization and polymerization‐induced self‐assembly (PISA), respectively, where the various block lengths and overall composition were varied. The copolymers prepared by solution polymerization were employed as oil‐in‐water stabilizers where upon application of a catalyst, the 3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (MPS) block at the droplet interface was crosslinked to yield capsule‐like structures. The effectiveness of interfacial crosslinking was validated by dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy. In situ self‐assembly by the PISA method resulted in spherical nanoparticles of controllable size that were readily crosslinked by addition of base, with significant enhancement of colloidal stability. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1897–1907
Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor attenuates chronic ischemia‐induced prostatic hyperplasia in a rat model
Authors: Fujii Shinji , Yamashita Shinichi , Hayashi Natsuho , Goto Takuro , Koyama Juntaro , Sato Takuma , Shimada Shuichi , Kawasaki Yoshihide , Izumi Hideaki , Kawamorita Naoki , Mitsuzuka Koji , Ito Akihiro , Arai Yoichi 
Published: December 2018

BackgroundMany elderly men suffer from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Recently, chronic ischemia in the prostate has been suggested to be related to BPH. Thus, the impact of chronic ischemia on the development of prostatic hyperplasia and the efficacy of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor for hyperplasia were evaluated in a rat model with chronic ischemia induced by local atherosclerosis.MethodsEighteen male Sprague‐Dawley rats were divided into three groups: sham operation, regular diet, placebo (SRP); arterial endothelial injury, high cholesterol diet, placebo (AHP); or arterial endothelial injury, high cholesterol diet, and tadalafil as a PDE5 inhibitor (AHT). The endothelial injury in the common iliac arteries was performed using a 2‐Fr Fogarty arterial embolectomy catheter through an incision in the femoral artery into the common iliac artery. Diet and oral drugs were administrated for 8 weeks after surgery. At 8 weeks, blood flow to the ventral prostate (VP) was measured using laser speckle blood flow analysis, and the VP was histologically evaluated.ResultsIn the AHP group, prostatic blood flow was reduced, and mean VP weight and the interstitial area were significantly enlarged compared with the SRP group. In the AHT group, tadalafil administration obviously ameliorated the reduction of prostatic blood flow relative to the AHP group. Importantly, mean VP weight and the morphological changes in the AHT group were significantly smaller than those in the AHP group.ConclusionsEnlargement of the VP resulted from chronic ischemia induced by local arteriosclerosis. Also, administration of tadalafil attenuated VP enlargement. Chronic ischemia in the prostate might thus contribute to the development of BPH, and PDE5 inhibitors might provide an innovative approach to preventing BPH.
Animal models of polycystic ovary syndrome: A review of hormone‐induced rodent models focused on hypothalamus‐pituitary‐ovary axis and neuropeptides
Authors: Osuka Satoko , Nakanishi Natsuki , Murase Tomohiko , Nakamura Tomoko , Goto Maki , Iwase Akira , Kikkawa Fumitaka 
Published: December 2018

AbstractBackgroundPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age and a major cause of infertility; however, the pathophysiology of this syndrome is not fully understood. This can be addressed using appropriate animal models of PCOS. In this review, we describe rodent models of hormone‐induced PCOS that focus on the perturbation of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐ovary (HPO) axis and abnormalities in neuropeptide levels.MethodsComparison of rodent models of hormone‐induced PCOS.Main findingsThe main method used to generate rodent models of PCOS was subcutaneous injection or implantation of androgens, estrogens, antiprogestin, or aromatase inhibitor. Androgens were administered to animals pre‐ or postnatally. Alterations in the levels of kisspeptin and related molecules have been reported in these models.ConclusionThe most appropriate model for the research objective and hypothesis should be established. Dysregulation of the HPO axis followed by elevated serum luteinizing hormone levels, hyperandrogenism, and metabolic disturbance contribute to the complex etiology of PCOS. These phenotypes of the human disease are recapitulated in hormone‐induced PCOS models. Thus, evidence from animal models can help to clarify the pathophysiology of PCOS.
Retrievable Inferior Vena Cava Filters: A Tertiary Centre Perspective and Quality Assurance Study
Authors: Hamidizadeh Ramin , Liu David , Khosa Faisal , Chung John , Klass Darren , Homayoon Behrang 
Published: December 2018

Purpose To conduct a retrospective review and quality assurance study of inferior vena cava (IVC) filter retrieval over a two-year period at a tertiary care centre. Methods Patients who underwent IVC filter placement or retrieval over a two-year period were identified. Medical records were reviewed for patient characteristics, filter indication, time to filter retrieval, and complications. Results IVC filters were placed in 229 patients between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2016. 113 retrievals were attempted and 101 filters were successfully retrieved (89.4%). Median time to first retrieval attempt was 48 days (range of 5–728). Seventy-one patients died in the interval after filter insertion before a retrieval attempt at a median time of 27 days (range of 3–430). In 17 patients, retrieval was complicated by or delayed because of penetration of IVC wall (n = 6), large thrombus burden trapped by filter (n = 5), filter tilt or migration (n = 3), and unclear reasons (n = 3). Time-to-first unsuccessful retrieval attempt was 141 days (median). Of all filters placed, 55.9% were never retrieved. Excluding deceased patients with in-situ filters (n = 71) and unsuccessful retrievals left in-situ as permanent filters (n = 5), there remains 52 patients (33%), with a median filter in-situ time of 488 days. Conclusion Our study indicates that as many as 33% of patients may have been lost to follow-up of their in-situ IVC filter. Considering widespread reports of long-term complications and the recent safety alert issued by Health Canada, it is evident that a unified strategy is needed to track patients post filter insertion.
Effect of Patient Characteristics on Vessel Enhancement in Pediatric Chest Computed Tomography Angiography
Authors: Masuda Takanori , Nakaura Takeshi , Funama Yoshinori , Sato Tomoyasu , Nitta Tetsuya , Higaki Toru , Baba Yasutaka , Matsumoto Yoriaki , Imada Naoyuki , Awai Kazuo 
Published: December 2018

Introduction To evaluate the effect of sex, age, height, cardiac output (CO), total body weight (TBW), body surface area (BSA), and lean body weight (LBW) on vessel enhancement of the ascending aorta in pediatric chest computed tomography angiography (c-CTA). Materials and Methods This retrospective study received institutional review board approval; parental prior informed consent for inclusion was obtained for all patients. All 50 patients were examined using our routine protocol; iodine (600 mg/kg) was the contrast medium (CM). Unenhanced and contrast-enhanced scans were obtained. We calculated the CM volume per vessel enhancement and performed univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis of the relationship between CM volume per vessel enhancement and each of the body parameters. Results All patient characteristics were significantly related to CM volume per vessel enhancement ( P < .05). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between CM volume per vessel enhancement and TBW, BSA, and LBW, but not the patient sex, age, CO, and height. The LBW model for CM volume per vessel enhancement yielded the highest determination coefficient (R2 = .913) and the lowest Akaike Information Criterion (400.324). Conclusions Our findings support the delivery of an iodine dose adjusted to the LBW at c-CTA.
Extended Spectral Analysis of Tidal Variability in the North Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Devlin Adam T. , Pan Jiayi , Lin Hui 
Published: December 2018

AbstractOcean tides have experienced large‐scale changes over the past century, in concert with regionally variable global mean sea level (MSL) rise. Additionally, there can be coherencies between MSL and tidal fluctuations that are active at shorter time scales. This combination of water level variabilities may enhance the probabilities of exceeding flood levels under high‐tide events, leading to increased frequency of short‐term coastal inundation and nuisance flooding. Previous studies have established the tidal anomaly correlation (TAC) method to analyze covariability of individual tidal components and MSL in the Pacific Ocean, as well as their combination as a proxy for the change in the highest astronomical tide (δ‐HAT). Here we extend this methodology to new regions and perform analyses of 170 tide gauges in the North Atlantic Ocean, considering the eight largest gravitational tides and seven overtides. Results indicate that nearly all gauges (95%) exhibit strong individual TACs in one or more tidal constituents, and over half show significant δ‐HATs, with a near‐equal occurrence of positive and negative tendencies. The most coherent connections of tides and MSL were found on the U.S. East Coast and in the marginal waters of Europe. At some locations, all tidal variabilities act in the same direction, which may amplify possible flood level. At other locations major parts of the tidal spectrum may counteract the MSL rise and partially mitigate extreme water levels due to tidal evolution. In either case, an understanding of regional tidal changes correlated to MSL changes can be instructive in guiding future coastal development efforts.
Solar Wind Implantation Into the Lunar Regolith: Monte Carlo Simulations of H Retention in a Surface With Defects and the H2 Exosphere
Authors: Tucker O. J. , Farrell W. M. , Killen R. M. , Hurley D. M. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe solar wind implants protons into the top 20–30 nm of lunar regolith grains, and the implanted hydrogen will diffuse out of the regolith but also interact with oxygen in the regolith oxides. We apply a statistical approach to estimate the diffusion of hydrogen in the regolith hindered by forming temporary bonds with regolith oxygen atoms. A Monte Carlo simulation was used to track the temporal evolution of bound OH surface content and the H2 exosphere. The model results are consistent with the interpretation of the Chandrayaan‐1 M3 observations of infrared absorption spectra by surface hydroxyls as discussed in Li and Milliken (2017, https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1701471). The model reproduced the latitudinal concentration of OH by using a Gaussian energy distribution of f(U0 = 0.5 eV, UW = 0.078–0.1 eV) to characterize the activation energy barrier to the diffusion of hydrogen in space weathered regolith. In addition, the model results of the exospheric content of H2 are consistent with observations by the Lyman Alpha Mapping Project on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Therefore, we provide support for hydroxyl formation by chemically trapped solar wind protons.
Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy and Pregnancy: A Clinical Case Series
Authors: Hari Anupama , Zulfeen Momina , Madhavaneni Sindhu 
Published: December 2018

AbstractHypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) is a primary myocardial disorder caused by mutations in several different genes coding for contractile proteins. Although HOCM is being increasingly diagnosed in women of reproductive age due to widespread use of echocardiography and screening programs, there are fewer studies of HOCM in pregnancy owing to the rarity of the disease and poor recognition. Our clinical case series includes five cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and its management. The authors describe five women presenting with HOCM with varied symptoms. All patients except one had favorable outcome. Neonatal outcome was good except for a second trimester intrauterine fetal demise. Intensive care unit (ICU) requirement ranged from 5 to 10 days. Two cases were established cases of HOCM. Pain relief was adequate with narcotics, although regional anesthesia was given to one with HOCM with corrected obstruction. No hypotension or deterioration was noted. Although it is believed that HOCM is well tolerated in pregnancy, it is important to have the diagnosis since management differs. Inadvertent regional anesthesia or hypotension due to blood loss or heightened sympathetic response to pain may prove detrimental to these patients. Maternal and fetal outcome are good. Prenatal routine echocardiography screening may prove efficient in identifying high-risk women, for early referral and better management.
Arrhythmia in Pregnancy
Authors: Sridevi Chennapragada 
Published: December 2018

AbstractArrhythmias in pregnancy are uncommon. They are associated with significant hemodynamic burden on a pregnant mother. Tachycardia that induces hemodynamic instability affects the fetus and neonate apart from the mother. In this review, a brief attempt is made to discuss various arrhythmias that occur in pregnancy and their management.
Cardiac Drugs in Pregnancy
Authors: Aruna Donepudi , Padmaja Mekala 
Published: December 2018

AbstractHeart disease complicating pregnancy is an indirect cause of maternal mortality and its incidence in India is 1 to 4%. Cardiac disease in pregnant women is most commonly due to rheumatic heart disease (RHD), congestive heart failure, and less commonly due to ischemic heart disease or cardiomyopathy. Though the frequency of RHD has decreased worldwide, it is still predominant in developing countries such as India. Around 15 to 52% of cardiac abnormalities first diagnosed during routine antenatal checkups or due to the signs and symptoms caused by physiologic changes of pregnancy. The most common clinical features of cardiac lesions such as breathlessness, pedal edema, and murmurs that mimic normal physiologic changes in pregnancy pose a diagnostic difficulty for obstetricians.
Pregnancy in Congenital Heart Diseases
Authors: Bakhru Shweta 
Published: December 2018

AbstractCongenital heart diseases (CHDs) affect 0.8 to 1.5% of general population. With increase in awareness and medical services, more number of patients with CHDs have entered into adulthood. One of the peculiar physiologic changes in women is going through pregnancy. Misconceptions are common in women with CHD. This write-up is to provide some brief information about CHD patients going through pregnancy. General cardiovascular risk and individual disease-related risks are discussed.
Structured environments fundamentally alter dynamics and stability of ecological communities
Authors: Vallespir Lowery Nick , Ursell Tristan 
Published: December 2018

Significance
Many microbial communities of ecological and medical importance reside in complex and heterogeneous environments, such as soils or intestinal tracts. While many studies consider the effects of flow or chemical gradients in structuring these communities, how the physical structure of the environment shapes community dynamics and outcomes remains poorly understood. Using simulations of competitive microbial communities, we show that stability and dynamics qualitatively shift in environments with complex surface structures compared with open isotropic environments. Therefore, in addition to biochemical interactions between species, our work suggests that the physical structure of the environment is an equally important determinant of dynamics and stability in microbial communities, in a manner dependent on the specific patterns of interactions within that community.
Lizard nest environments differ between suburban and forest habitats
Authors: Tiatragul Sarin , Hall Joshua M , Pavlik Nathaniel G , Warner Daniel A 
Published: December 2018

AbstractNesting success is critical for oviparous species to maintain viable populations. Many species often do not provide parental care (e.g. oviparous reptiles), so embryos are left to develop in the prevailing conditions of the nest. For species that occupy diverse habitats, embryos must be able to complete development across a broad range of environmental conditions. Although much research has investigated how environmental conditions influence embryo development, we know little about how nest conditions differ between diverse habitats. Anolis lizards are commonly found in various habitats including those heavily modified by humans (e.g. cities). We describe nest sites of anoles in two different habitat types: a suburban area and a nearby forest. The suburban area had less total nesting habitat but a greater variety of microenvironment conditions for females to use for nesting, compared to the forest. Suburban nests were warmer and drier with greater thermal variance compared to forest nests. Finally, we use data from the literature to predict how nest conditions may influence development. Our study provides the first quantitative assessment of anole nest sites in human-modified environments and shows how suburban habitats may generate variation in developmental rate.
Residual or Recurrent Precancerous Lesions After Treatment of Cervical Lesions in Human Immunodeficiency Virus–infected Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Treatment Failure
Authors: Debeaudrap Pierre , Sobngwi Joelle , Tebeu Pierre-Marie , Clifford Gary M 
Published: December 2018

Abstract

Background
Screening and treating premalignant cervical lesions (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2+ [CIN2+]) is an effective way to prevent cervical cancer, and recommendations exist for the monitoring of treatment success. Yet, there is no specific recommendation for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women, who are at a known, increased risk of cervical cancer.

Methods
A systematic review was performed by searching MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science for studies published from January 1980 through May 2018. Eligible studies described the prevalence of histologically- and/or cytologically-defined lesions in HIV-infected women at least 6 months post-treatment. The primary endpoint was treatment failure, defined as the presence of residual and/or recurrent high-grade CIN2+/high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions post-treatment. The pooled prevalence in HIV-infected women and the odds ratios (ORs) for HIV-infected compared to HIV-uninfected women were estimated using random-effects models.

Results
Among 40 eligible studies, the pooled prevalence of treatment failure in HIV-infected women was 21.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 15.8–27.0). There was no significant difference in the treatment failure prevalence for cryotherapy (13.9%, 95% CI 6.1–21.6) versus loop electrosurgical excision procedure (13.8%, 95% CI 8.9–18.7; P = .9), but the treatment failure prevalence was significantly higher in women with positive (47.2%, 95% CI 22.0–74.0) than with negative (19.4%, 95% CI 11.8–30.2) excision margin (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.5–7.7). Treatment failure was significantly increased in HIV-infected versus HIV-uninfected women, both overall (OR 2.7, 95% CI 2.0–3.5) and in all sub-group analyses.

Conclusions
There is strong evidence for an increased risk of treatment failure in HIV-infected women, in comparison to their HIV-negative counterparts. The only significant predictor of treatment failure in HIV-infected women was a positive margin status, but further data is needed on long-term outcomes after ablative treatment in HIV-infected women.
Parametric definition of the influence of a paper in a citation network using communicability functions
Authors: Pichardo-Corpus Juan A , Contreras J Guillermo , de la Peña José A 
Published: December 2018

Abstract
Communicability functions quantify the flow of information between two nodes of a network. In this work, we use them to explore the concept of the influence of a paper in a citation network. These functions depend on a parameter. By varying the parameter in a continuous way we explore different definitions of influence. We study six citation networks, three from physics and three from computer science. As a benchmark, we compare our results against two frequently used measures: the number of citations of a paper and the PageRank algorithm. We show that the ranking of the articles in a network can be varied from being equivalent to the ranking obtained from the number of citations to a behaviour tending to the eigenvector centrality, these limits correspond to small and large values of the communicability-function parameter, respectively. At an intermediate value of the parameter a PageRank-like behaviour is recovered. As a test case, we apply communicability functions to two sets of articles, where at least one author of each paper was awarded a Nobel Prize for the research presented in the corresponding article.
Handling short-period scattering using augmented Marchenko autofocusing
Authors: Dukalski Marcin , Mariani Elisa , de Vos Koos 
Published: December 2018

SUMMARY
Marchenko autofocusing constructs arbitrary acoustic wavefields inside an unknown heterogeneous medium from a single-sided, bandlimited in practice, reflection response by solving the Marchenko equation. Presence of short-period scattering leads to erroneous solutions and therefore incorrect medium characterization. We show that augmenting this equation with energy conservation and minimum phase conditions enables to correct these erroneous solutions, and thus it removes the long-/short-period timescale separation and solves this long standing problem.