bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pneumococcal Urinary Antigen Testing in United States Hospitals: A Missed Opportunity for Antimicrobial Stewardship
Authors: Schimmel Jennifer J , Haessler Sarah , Imrey Peter , Lindenauer Peter K , Richter Sandra S , Yu Pei-Chun , Rothberg Michael B 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
The Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends pneumococcal urinary antigen testing (UAT) when identifying pneumococcal infection would allow for antibiotic de-escalation. However, the frequencies of UAT and subsequent antibiotic de-escalation are unknown.

Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients admitted with community-acquired or healthcare-associated pneumonia to 170 US hospitals in the Premier database from 2010 to 2015, to describe variation in UAT use, associations of UAT results with antibiotic de-escalation, and associations of de-escalation with outcomes.

Results
Among 159 894 eligible admissions, 24 757 (15.5%) included UAT performed (18.4% of intensive care unit [ICU] and 15.3% of non-ICU patients). Among hospitals with ≥100 eligible patients, UAT proportions ranged from 0% to 69%. Compared to patients with negative UAT, 7.2% with positive UAT more often had a positive Streptococcus pneumoniae culture (25.4% vs 1.9%, P &lt; .001) and less often had resistant bacteria (5.2% vs 6.8%, P &lt; .05). Of patients initially treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, most were still receiving broad-spectrum therapy 3 days later, but UAT-positive patients more often had coverage narrowed (38.4% vs 17.0% UAT-negative and 14.6% untested patients, P &lt; .001). Hospital rate of UAT was strongly correlated with de-escalation following a positive test. Only 3 patients de-escalated after a positive UAT result were subsequently admitted to ICU.

Conclusions
UAT is not ordered routinely in pneumonia, even in ICU. A positive UAT result was associated with less frequent resistant organisms, but usually did not lead to antibiotic de-escalation. Increasing UAT and narrowing therapy after a positive UAT result are opportunities for improved antimicrobial stewardship.
A market for trading software issues
Authors: Rao Malvika , Link Georg J P , Marti Don , Leak Andy , Bodo Rich 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
The security of software is becoming increasingly important. Open source software forms much of our digital infrastructure. It, however, contains vulnerabilities which have been exploited, attracted public attention, and caused large financial damages. This article proposes a solution to shortcomings in the current economic situation of open source software development. The main idea is to introduce price signals into the peer production of software. This is achieved through a trading market for futures contracts on the status of software issues. Users, who value secure software, gain the possibility to predict outcomes and incentivize work, strengthening collaboration and information sharing in open source software development. The design of such a trading market is discussed and a prototype introduced. The feasibility of the trading market design is corroborated in a proof-of-concept implementation and simulation. Preliminary results show that the implementation works and can be used for future experiments. Several directions for future research result from this article, which contributes to peer production, software development practices, and incentives design.
Facial growth in patients with isolated cleft palate treated with minimal incision technique compared to a normal population—a cephalometric study at 10 and 16 years of age
Authors: Parikakis Konstantinos , Larson Ola , Karsten Agneta 
Published: October 2019

Summary

Objective
To evaluate the result of a novel palatoplasty (minimal incision technique) for closure of an isolated cleft palate (ICP) at 10 and 16 years of age, concerning facial growth, compared to a normal population.

Subjects
Treated group: 55 non-syndromic Caucasian children born with an ICP between 1987 and 2001. The children were treated surgically with a one-stage palatoplasty at a mean age of 13 months. Control group: 110 Caucasian children with normal occlusion with no history of clefts or orthodontic intervention.

Method
The treated children (25 boys, 30 girls) were matched (gender and age) with the children in the control group. A retrospective evaluation at 10 (mean 10.5) and 16 (mean 16.0) years of age was performed by analysis of lateral cephalograms. Fifteen variables were evaluated. Ninety-nine per cent confidence intervals were calculated. Two-way factorial ANOVA and mixed-model analysis were performed.

Results
Treated patients compared to the control group showed: at 10 years of age, smaller mandible (P = 0.001) and reduced posterior upper and total face heights (P ≤ 0.001); at 10 and 16 years of age, a retrognathic (P ≤ 0.001), smaller (P ≤ 0.006) and with an increased posterior inclination of the maxilla (P < 0.001), as well as a retrognathic mandible (P ≤ 0.006).

Conclusion
The craniofacial morphology at 10 and 16 years of age in patients born with an ICP and treated with the minimal incision technique differs compared to the morphology of a normal control group born without a cleft. Retrognathic maxillas and a smaller and posteriorly inclined maxilla were found in the treated group.
Therapeutic Delivery of Ang(1–7) via Genetically Modified Probiotic: A Dosing Study
Authors: Carter Christy S , Morgan Drake , Verma Amrisha , Lobaton Gilberto , Aquino Victor , Sumners Elaine , Raizada Mohan , Li Qiuhong , Buford Thomas W 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
In recent years a number of beneficial health effects have been ascribed to the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) that extend beyond lowering blood pressure, primarily mediated via the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2)/angiotensin (1–7) or Ang(1–7)/MAS receptor axis. Moreover, once thought as merely a systemic effector, RAS components exist within tissues. The highest tissue concentrations of ACE2 mRNA are located in the gut making it an important target for altering RAS function. Indeed, genetically engineered recombinant probiotics are promising treatment strategies offering delivery of therapeutic proteins with precision. An Ang(1–7) secreting Lactobacillus paracasei (LP) or LP-A has been described for regulation of diabetes and hypertension; however, we are the first to the best of our knowledge to propose this paradigm as it relates to aging. In this Research Practice manuscript, we provide proof of concept for using this technology in a well-characterized rodent model of aging: the Fisher344 x Brown Norway Rat (F344BN). Our primary findings suggest that LP-A increases circulating levels of Ang(1–7) both acutely and chronically (after 8 or 28 treatment days) when administered 3× or 7×/week over 4 weeks. Our future preclinical studies will explore the impact of this treatment on gut and other age-sensitive distal tissues such as brain and muscle.
The variability of SMCHD1 gene in FSHD patients: evidence of new mutations
Authors: Strafella Claudia , Caputo Valerio , Galota Rosaria Maria , Campoli Giulia , Bax Cristina , Colantoni Luca , Minozzi Giulietta , Orsini Chiara , Politano Luisa , Tasca Giorgio , Novelli Giuseppe , Ricci Enzo , Giardina Emiliano , Cascella Raffaella 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
In this study, we investigated the sequence of (Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes flexible Hinge Domain containing 1) SMCHD1 gene in a cohort of clinically defined FSHD (facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy) patients in order to assess the distribution of SMCHD1 variants, considering the D4Z4 fragment size in terms of repeated units (RUs; short fragment: 1–7 RU, borderline: 8-10RU and normal fragment: &gt;11RU). The analysis of SMCHD1 revealed the presence of 82 variants scattered throughout the introns, exons and 3’untranslated region (3′UTR) of the gene. Among them, 64 were classified as benign polymorphisms and 6 as VUS (variants of uncertain significance). Interestingly, seven pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants were identified in patients carrying a borderline or normal D4Z4 fragment size, namely c.182_183dupGT (p.Q62Vfs*48), c.2129dupC (p.A711Cfs*11), c.3469G&gt;T (p.G1157*), c.5150_5151delAA (p.K1717Rfs*16) and c.1131+2_1131+5delTAAG, c.3010A&gt;T (p.K1004*), c.853G&gt;C (p.G285R). All of them were predicted to disrupt the structure and conformation of SMCHD1, resulting in the loss of GHKL-ATPase and SMC hinge essential domains. These results are consistent with the FSHD symptomatology and the Clinical Severity Score (CSS) of patients. In addition, five variants (c.*1376A&gt;C, rs7238459; c.*1579G&gt;A, rs559994; c.*1397A&gt;G, rs150573037; c.*1631C&gt;T, rs193227855; c.*1889G&gt;C, rs149259359) were identified in the 3′UTR region of SMCHD1, suggesting a possible miRNA-dependent regulatory effect on FSHD-related pathways. The present study highlights the clinical utility of next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms for the molecular diagnosis of FSHD and the importance of integrating molecular findings and clinical data in order to improve the accuracy of genotype–phenotype correlations.
Excursions of Generic Geodesics in Right-Angled Artin Groups and Graph Products
Authors: Qing Yulan , Tiozzo Giulio 
Published: October 2019

AbstractMotivated by the notion of cusp excursion in geometrically finite hyperbolic manifolds, we define a notion of excursion in any subgroup of a given group and study its asymptotic distribution for right-angled Artin groups (RAAGs) and graph products. In particular, for any irreducible RAAG we show that with respect to the counting measure, the maximal excursion of a generic geodesic in any flat tends to $\log n$, where $n$ is the length of the geodesic. In this regard, irreducible RAAGs behave like a free product of groups. In fact, we show that the asymptotic distribution of excursions detects the growth rate of the RAAG and whether it is reducible.
Predictive Modeling for Personalized Three-Dimensional Burn Injury Assessments
Authors: Desbois Adrien , Beguet Florian , Leclerc Yannick , González Hernández Angel Eduardo , Gervais Sylvie , Perreault Isabelle , de Guise Jacques A 
Published: October 2019

AbstractFor patients with major burn injuries, an accurate burn size estimation is essential to plan appropriate treatment and minimize medical and surgical complications. However, current clinical methods for burn size estimation lack accuracy and reliability. To overcome these limitations, this paper proposes a 3D-based approach—with personalized 3D models from a limited set of anthropometric measurements—to accurately assess the percent TBSA affected by burns. First, a reliability and feasibility study of the anthropometric measuring process was performed to identify clinically relevant measurements. Second, a large representative stratified random sample was generated to output several anthropometric features required for predictive modeling. Machine-learning algorithms assessed the importance and the subsets of anthropometric measurements for predicting the BSA according to specific patient morphological features. Then, the accuracy of both the morphology and BSA of 3D models built from a limited set of measurements was evaluated using error metrics and maximum distances 3D color maps. Results highlighted the height and circumferences of the bust, neck, hips, and waist as the best predictors for BSA. 3D models built from three to four anthropometric measurements showed good accuracy and were geometrically close to gold standard 3D scans. Outcomes of this study aim to decrease medical and surgical complications by decreasing errors in percent TBSA assessments and, therefore, improving patient outcomes by personalizing care.
Enzymes contributing to the hydrogen peroxide signal dynamics that regulate wall labyrinth formation in transfer cells
Authors: Xia Xue , Zhang Hui-Ming , Offler Christina E , Patrick John W 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Transfer cells are characterized by an amplified plasma membrane area supported on a wall labyrinth composed of a uniform wall layer (UWL) from which wall ingrowth (WI) papillae arise. Adaxial epidermal cells of developing Vicia faba cotyledons, when placed in culture, undergo a rapid (hours) trans-differentiation to a functional epidermal transfer cell (ETC) phenotype. The trans-differentiation event is controlled by a signalling cascade comprising auxin, ethylene, apoplasmic reactive oxygen species (apoROS), and cytosolic Ca2+. Apoplasmic hydrogen peroxide (apoH2O2) was confirmed as the apoROS regulating UWL and WI papillae formation. Informed by an ETC-specific transcriptome, a pharmacological approach identified a temporally changing cohort of H2O2 biosynthetic enzymes. The cohort contained a respiratory burst oxidase homologue, polyamine oxidase, copper amine oxidase, and a suite of class III peroxidases. Collectively these generated two consecutive bursts in apoH2O2 production. Spatial organization of biosynthetic/catabolic enzymes was deduced from responses to pharmacologically blocking their activities on the cellular and subcellular distribution of apoH2O2. The findings were consistent with catalase activity constraining the apoH2O2 signal to the outer periclinal wall of the ETCs. Strategic positioning of class III peroxidases in this outer domain shaped subcellular apoH2O2 signatures that differed during assembly of the UWL and WI papillae.
Alphabet usage pattern, word lengths, and sparsity in seven Indo-European languages
Authors: Rajput Nikhil Kumar , Ahuja Bhavya , Riyal Manoj Kumar 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
An empirical study on about 1.7 million dictionary words from seven languages viz. English, French, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Hindi, and German has been conducted. Three intriguing characteristic features have been analyzed. First, the alphabet usage pattern in a language was determined which can be used to give an idea on how alphabets have been employed. For instance, the alphabet ‘e’ is highly used in English, while ‘q’ is least used. Second, the average and range of word lengths in the languages were computed and seen to vary from 1 to 37. Average word lengths were computed in the range (6.665–11.14). For comparison, word lengths have been fitted using Gaussian distribution. Third, a new measure was derived; which we termed ‘Language Sparsity’; computed as one minus ratio of number of words of a particular length already existing to the total number of possible words that can be formed. Sparsity hence gives a measure of the scope of fruition in languages. Two such measures have been defined: a weighted and a nonweighted sparsity. Nonweighted sparsity was found to be minimum (0.877) for English and maximum (0.982) for Dutch. The results obtained can play a significant role in propagating the synergy of language evolution.
Conceptual Engineering, Metasemantic Externalism and Speaker-Meaning
Authors: Pinder Mark 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
What is the relationship between conceptual engineering and metasemantic externalism? Sally Haslanger has argued that metasemantic externalism justifies the seemingly counterintuitive consequences of her proposed conceptual revisions. But according to Herman Cappelen, metasemantic externalism makes conceptual engineering effectively impossible in practice. After raising objections to Haslanger’s and Cappelen’s views, I argue for a very different picture, on which metasemantic externalism bears very little on conceptual engineering. I argue that, while metasemantic externalism principally operates at the level of semantic-meaning, we should understand conceptual engineering to operate largely at the level of speaker-meaning. This ‘Speaker-Meaning Picture’ has two key benefits. Firstly, it makes conceptual engineering often easy in practice. Secondly, it suggests a new, normative response to the well known objection that conceptual engineering serves only to change the subject.
The MUSE Ultra Deep Field (MUDF). II. Survey design and the gaseous properties of galaxy groups at 0.5 &lt; z &lt; 1.5
Authors: Fossati M , Fumagalli M , Lofthouse E K , D’Odorico V , Lusso E , Cantalupo S , Cooke R J , Cristiani S , Haardt F , Morris S L , Peroux C , Prichard L J , Rafelski M , Smail I , Theuns T 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACT
We present the goals, design, and first results of the MUSE Ultra Deep Field (MUDF) survey, a large programme using the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) instrument at the ESO Very Large Telescope. The MUDF survey is collecting ≈150 h on-source of integral field optical spectroscopy in a 1.5 × 1.2 arcmin2 region which hosts several astrophysical structures along the line of sight, including two bright z ≈ 3.2 quasars with close separation (≈500 kpc). Following the description of the data reduction procedures, we present the analysis of the galaxy environment and gaseous properties of seven groups detected at redshifts 0.5 &lt; z &lt; 1.5, spanning a large dynamic range in halo mass, $\log (M_h/\rm {M_\odot }) \approx 11 - 13.5$. For four of the groups, we find associated Mg ii absorbers tracing cool gas in high-resolution spectroscopy of the two quasars, including one case of correlated absorption in both sightlines at distance ≈480 kpc. The absorption strength associated with the groups is higher than what has been reported for more isolated galaxies of comparable mass and impact parameters. We do not find evidence for widespread cool gas giving rise to strong absorption within these groups. Combining these results with the distribution of neutral and ionized gas seen in emission in lower redshift groups, we conclude that gravitational interactions in the group environment strip gas from the galaxy haloes into the intragroup medium, boosting the cross-section of cool gas and leading to the high fraction of strong Mg ii absorbers that we detect.
SN 2015an: a normal luminosity type II supernova with low expansion velocity at early phases
Authors: Dastidar Raya , Misra Kuntal , Valenti Stefano , Burke Jamison , Hosseinzadeh Griffin , Gangopadhyay Anjasha , Howell D Andrew , Singh Mridweeka , Arcavi Iair , Kumar Brijesh , McCully Curtis , Sanwal Pankaj , Pandey S B 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACT
We present the photometry and spectroscopy of SN 2015an, a type II Supernova (SN) in IC 2367. The recombination phase of the SN lasts up to 120 d, with a decline rate of 1.24 mag/100d, higher than the typical SNe IIP. The SN exhibits bluer colours than most SNe II, indicating higher ejecta temperatures. The absolute V-band magnitude of SN 2015an at 50 d is −16.83 ± 0.04 mag, pretty typical for SNe II. However, the 56Ni mass yield, estimated from the tail V-band light curve to be 0.021 ± 0.010 M⊙, is comparatively low. The spectral properties of SN 2015an are atypical, with low H α expansion velocity and presence of high-velocity component of H α at early phases. Moreover, the continuum exhibits excess blue flux up to 50 d, which is interpreted as a progenitor metallicity effect. The high-velocity feature indicates ejecta-circumstellar material interaction at early phases. The semi-analytical modelling of the bolometric light curve yields a total ejected mass of 12 M⊙, a pre-SN radius of 388 R⊙ and explosion energy of 1.8 foe.
New insights on the puzzling LMXB 1RXS J180408.9-342058: the intermediate state, the clocked type-I X-ray bursts, and much more
Authors: Marino A , Del Santo M , Cocchi M , D’Aì A , Segreto A , Ferrigno C , Di Salvo T , Malzac J , Iaria R , Burderi L 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACT
1RXS J180408.9–342058 is a low-mass X-ray binary hosting a neutron star, which shows X-ray activity at very different mass-accretion regimes, from very faint to almost the Eddington luminosity. In this work, we present a comprehensive X-ray study of this source using data from the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, NuSTAR, and INTEGRAL/JEM-X. In order to follow the spectral evolution, we analysed the 2015 outburst using Swift data and three NuSTAR observations. Besides the canonical hard and soft spectral states, we identified the rarely observed intermediate state. This was witnessed by the appearance of the accretion disc emission in the spectrum (at kTdisc ∼0.7 keV) and the simultaneous cooling of the hot corona. In addition, we also unveiled a hard tail above 30 keV in this state. In the hard state, a thermal Comptonization model with two seed photons populations (kTs,1 ∼ 1.5 keV and kTs,2 ∼ 0.4 keV, respectively) and a hot Comptonizing plasma, represents the physically best motivated scenario to describe the data. We also estimated a reflection fraction below 20 per cent in all states, while no constraints on the inclination and only lower limits on the inner disc radius could be inferred. Finally, we studied a number of type-I X-ray bursts displayed from the source, one of them at the Eddington limit (observed with JEM-X). Their characteristics, combined with the clocked behaviour observed during the intermediate state, point out H/He composition for the accreted material, which makes unlikely the helium dwarf nature for the companion.
The first view of δ Scuti and γ Doradus stars with the TESS mission
Authors: Antoci V , Cunha M S , Bowman D M , Murphy S J , Kurtz D W , Bedding T R , Borre C C , Christophe S , Daszyńska-Daszkiewicz J , Fox-Machado L , García Hernández A , Ghasemi H , Handberg R , Hansen H , Hasanzadeh A , Houdek G , Johnston C , Justesen A B , Kahraman Alicavus F , Kotysz K , Latham D , Matthews J M , Mønster J , Niemczura E , Paunzen E , Sánchez Arias J P , Pigulski A , Pepper J , Richey-Yowell T , Safari H , Seager S , Smalley B , Shutt T , Sódor A , Suárez J-C , Tkachenko A , Wu T , Zwintz K , Barceló Forteza S , Brunsden E , Bognár Z , Buzasi D L , Chowdhury S , De Cat P , Evans J A , Guo Z , Guzik J A , Jevtic N , Lampens P , Lares Martiz M , Lovekin C , Li G , Mirouh G M , Mkrtichian D , Monteiro M J P F G , Nemec J M , Ouazzani R-M , Pascual-Granado J , Reese D R , Rieutord M , Rodon J R , Skarka M , Sowicka P , Stateva I , Szabó R , Weiss W W 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACT
We present the first asteroseismic results for δ Scuti and γ Doradus stars observed in Sectors 1 and 2 of the TESS mission. We utilize the 2-min cadence TESS data for a sample of 117 stars to classify their behaviour regarding variability and place them in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram using Gaia DR2 data. Included within our sample are the eponymous members of two pulsator classes, γ Doradus and SX Phoenicis. Our sample of pulsating intermediate-mass stars observed by TESS also allows us to confront theoretical models of pulsation driving in the classical instability strip for the first time and show that mixing processes in the outer envelope play an important role. We derive an empirical estimate of 74 per cent for the relative amplitude suppression factor as a result of the redder TESS passband compared to the Kepler mission using a pulsating eclipsing binary system. Furthermore, our sample contains many high-frequency pulsators, allowing us to probe the frequency variability of hot young δ Scuti stars, which were lacking in the Kepler mission data set, and identify promising targets for future asteroseismic modelling. The TESS data also allow us to refine the stellar parameters of SX Phoenicis, which is believed to be a blue straggler.