bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transoral robotic surgery versus upper airway stimulation in select obstructive sleep apnea patients
Authors: Yu Jason L. , Mahmoud Ahmad , Thaler Erica R. 
Published: September 2018

ObjectivesTransoral robotic surgery (TORS) has been used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) since 2009, with recent meta‐analysis showing an average reduction of apnea‐hypopnea index (AHI) from 44.3 to 17.0. In 2014, upper airway stimulation surgery (UAS) was approved for OSA treatment, with results showing an average AHI reduction from 32.0 to 15.3. Given there was a period when TORS was available and UAS was not, we looked at a subset of patients treated with TORS but who could have qualified for UAS and compared their outcomes to patients who received UAS.MethodsThis is a retrospective chart review comparing TORS to UAS in treatment of OSA performed by a single surgeon between 2011 and 2016. Inclusion criteria were a body mass index less than 35 and AHI between 20 and 65 consistent with criteria for UAS implantation. Patients who received TORS and met the inclusion criteria had their preoperative drug‐induced sleep endoscopy recordings re‐evaluated. Patients with anteroposterior retropalatal collapse that would have qualified them for UAS had their outcomes compared to patients who received UAS.ResultsResults between TORS and UAS showed an average AHI reduction of 12.7 and 33.3, respectively. Overall cure rate, defined as AHI < 5, was 10.0% and 70.3%, respectively.ConclusionResults of this study indicate that, when met with criteria for both TORS and UAS, patients receiving UAS had greater improvement in several objective measures of OSA. Studies like this may help direct future treatment algorithms for surgical management of OSA.Level of Evidence4 Laryngoscope, 129:256–258, 2019
Characterization of the consistent completion of analytic hierarchy process comparison matrices using graph theory
Authors: Benítez Julio , Carpitella Silvia , Certa Antonella , Izquierdo Joaquín 
Published: September 2018

AbstractDecision‐making is frequently affected by uncertainty and/or incomplete information, which turn decision‐making into a complex task. It is often the case that some of the actors involved in decision‐making are not sufficiently familiar with all of the issues to make the appropriate decisions. In this paper, we are concerned about missing information. Specifically, we deal with the problem of consistently completing an analytic hierarchy process comparison matrix and make use of graph theory to characterize such a completion. The characterization includes the degree of freedom of the set of solutions and a linear manifold and, in particular, characterizes the uniqueness of the solution, a result already known in the literature, for which we provide a completely independent proof. Additionally, in the case of nonuniqueness, we reduce the problem to the solution of nonsingular linear systems. In addition to obtaining the priority vector, our investigation also focuses on building the complete pairwise comparison matrix, a crucial step in the necessary process (between synthetic consistency and personal judgement) with the experts. The performance of the obtained results is confirmed.
Transcutaneous oxygen measurement in humans using a paramagnetic skin adhesive film
Authors: Kmiec Maciej M. , Hou Huagang , Lakshmi Kuppusamy M. , Drews Thomas M. , Prabhat Anjali M. , Petryakov Sergey V. , Demidenko Eugene , Schaner Philip E. , Buckey Jay C. , Blank Aharon , Kuppusamy Periannan 
Published: September 2018

PurposeTranscutaneous oxygen tension (TcpO2) provides information about blood perfusion in the tissue immediately below the skin. These data are valuable in assessing wound healing problems, diagnosing peripheral vascular/arterial insufficiency, and predicting disease progression or the response to therapy. Currently, TcpO2 is primarily measured using electrochemical skin sensors, which consume oxygen and are prone to calibration errors. The goal of the present study was to develop a reliable method for TcpO2 measurement in human subjects.MethodsWe have developed a novel TcpO2 oximetry method based on electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) principles with an oxygen‐sensing skin adhesive film, named the superficial perfusion oxygen tension (SPOT) chip. The SPOT chip is a 3‐mm diameter, 60‐μm thick circular film composed of a stable paramagnetic oxygen sensor. The chip is covered with an oxygen‐barrier material on one side and secured on the skin by a medical adhesive transfer tape to ensure that only the oxygen that diffuses through the skin surface is measured. The method quantifies TcpO2 through the linewidth of the EPR spectrum.ResultsRepeated measurements using a cohort of 10 healthy human subjects showed that the TcpO2 measurements were robust, reliable, and reproducible. The TcpO2 values ranged from 7.8 ± 0.8 to 22.0 ± 1.0 mmHg in the volar forearm skin (N = 29) and 8.1 ± 0.3 to 23.4 ± 1.3 mmHg in the foot (N = 86).ConclusionsThe results demonstrated that the SPOT chip can measure TcpO2 reliably and repeatedly under ambient conditions. The SPOT chip method could potentially be used to monitor TcpO2 in the clinic.
Effect of flow‐encoding strength on intravoxel incoherent motion in the liver
Authors: Moulin Kévin , Aliotta Eric , Ennis Daniel B. 
Published: September 2018

PurposeTo study the impact of variable flow‐encoding strength on intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) liver imaging of diffusion and perfusion.TheorySignal attenuation in DWI arises from (1) intravoxel microvascular blood flow, which depends on the flow‐encoding strength α (first gradient moment) of the diffusion‐encoding waveform, and (2) intravoxel spin diffusion, which depends on the b‐value of the diffusion‐encoding gradient waveforms α and b‐value. Both are linked to the diffusion‐encoding gradient waveform and conventionally are not independently controlled.MethodsIn this work a convex optimization framework was used to generate gradient waveforms with independent α and b‐value. Thirty‐six unique α and b‐value sample points from 5 different gradient waveforms were used to reconstruct perfusion fraction (f), coefficient of diffusion (D), and blood velocity standard deviation (Vb) maps using a recently proposed IVIM model. Faster acquisition strategies were evaluated with 1000 random subsampling strategies of 16, 8, and 4 α and b‐value. Among the subsampled reconstructions, the sampling schemes that minimized the difference with the fully sampled reconstruction were reported.ResultsHealthy volunteers (N = 9) were imaged on a 3T scanner. Liver perfusion and diffusion estimates using the fully sampled IVIM method were f = 0.19 ± 0.06, D = 1.15 ± 0.15 10–3 mm2/s, and Vb = 5.22 ± 3.86 mm/s. No statistical differences were found between the fully sampled and 2‐times undersampled reconstruction (f = 0.2 ± 0.07, D = 1.19 ± 0.15 10–3 mm2/s, Vb = 5.79 ± 3.43 mm/s); 4‐times undersampled (f = 0.2 ± 0.06, D = 1.15 ± 0.17 10–3 mm2/s, Vb = 4.66 ± 3.61 mm/s), or 8‐times undersampled ( f = 0.2 ± 0.06, D = 1.23 ± 0.22 10–3 mm2/s, Vb = 4.99 ± 3.82 mm/s) approaches.ConclusionWe demonstrate the IVIM signal’s dependence on the b‐value, the diffusion‐encoding time and the flow‐encoding strength and observe in vivo the ballistic regime signature of microperfusion in the liver. This work also demonstrates that using an IVIM model and sampling scheme matched to the ballistic regime, pixel‐wise IVIM parameter maps are possible when sampling as few as 4 IVIM signals.
Reduction of lipid contamination in MR spectroscopy imaging using signal space projection
Authors: Tsai Shang‐Yueh , Lin Yi‐Ru , Lin Hsin‐Yu , Lin Fa‐Hsuan 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPurposeLipid contamination can complicate the metabolite quantification in MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI). In addition to various experimental methods demonstrated to be feasible for lipid suppression, the postprocessing method is beneficial in the flexibility of applications. In this study, the signal space projection (SSP) algorithm is proposed to suppress the lipid signal in the MRSI.MethodsThe performance of lipid suppression using SSP and SSP combined with the Papoulis‐Gerchberg (PG) algorithm (PG+SSP) is examined in 2D MRSI data and the results were compared with outer volume saturation (OVS) methods. Up to 10 lipid spatial components were extracted by SSP from lipid signals in the range of 0.8~1.5 ppm.ResultsOur results show that most lipid signals were found in the first 4 to 5 components and that lipid signals on the spectra can be suppressed using 4 to 5 components. Metabolites concentrations were quantified using LCModel. Two regions of interest (ROIs) were manually selected on the peripheral and inner brain regions. The quantification of metabolites in terms of fitting reliability (CRLB) and spatial variations within ROIs (SpaVar) is improved using SSP. When 5 to 6 components were used in SSP and PG+SSP, the metabolite concentrations and the associated SpaVar and CRLB are at the same level as those from the OVS.ConclusionWe have demonstrated that the SSP method can be used to suppress the lipid signals of MRSI and SSP with 5 to 6 components is suggested to have a similar suppression performance as the OVS method.
Changes in Growth of Rainbow Trout in a Catskill Mountain Reservoir Following Alewife and White Perch Introductions
Authors: George Scott D. , Baldigo Barry P. , Flaherty Michael J. , Randall Eileen A. 
Published: September 2018

Abstract
Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss were introduced to the Esopus Creek watershed in the Catskill Mountains of New York in the early 1880s. This introduction created a renowned naturalized fishery that remains important to the local economy today. The objective of this study was to determine whether the growth and condition of Rainbow Trout in the Ashokan Reservoir changed following the establishment of (1) Alewives Alosa pseudoharengus in the 1970s and (2) White Perch Morone americana in the 2000s by analyzing historical scale samples from 502 Rainbow Trout. The resulting data were used to compare length at age, von Bertalanffy growth curves, age-specific annual growth increments, and relative weight before and after each introduction. Results indicated that growth of Rainbow Trout of ages &lt;5 years generally increased following each introduction, while insufficient data for ages 5 and 6 made trends for older fish unclear. Rainbow Trout of ages ≤2 are believed to primarily use riverine habitats in this watershed, and therefore fish of ages &gt;2 may best reflect reservoir growth. The mean relative weight of Rainbow Trout also increased between each period. The largest increases in both growth and condition were observed during the period after the introduction of White Perch, which was unexpected considering this species may have some diet overlap with Rainbow Trout and should be a poor forage species. Changes in watershed management and density-dependent growth effects may explain these unexpected results. Our results, which largely suggest increased growth and condition over time, eliminate growth effects as a possible explanation for declining Rainbow Trout populations and suggest recruitment issues in the watershed require further investigation. This study contributes to our understanding of the interactions between introduced species and underscores the value of maintaining long-term monitoring programs for assessing biological trends.
An Indirect Method for Estimating Size-Specific Exploitation
Authors: Bodine Kristopher A. , Schlechte J. Warren , Shoup Daniel E. 
Published: September 2018

Abstract

Estimating size-specific exploitation (SSU) is critical to assessing population responses to length-based regulations because harvest rates often vary by fish size. Failing to incorporate SSU into assessments could result in regulations that unnecessarily restrict harvest or put the stock at risk of overharvest. Unfortunately, managers rarely estimate SSU because it is difficult and expensive to do this in traditional tag–return studies. We describe how a change-in-ratio estimator (CIRE) that incorporates commonly collected fisheries management data such as creel length frequency, population length frequency, and total exploitation can provide a potentially cost-effective method for estimating absolute SSU. Absolute SSU will allow biologists to determine the size of fish being harvested, the magnitude of harvest for each fish size, and what sizes need to be regulated. We also demonstrate how the CIRE can be used to estimate relative SSU, which can be calculated even when total exploitation data are unavailable. Much like catch per unit effort, relative SSU is useful for monitoring relative changes across time, among fish sizes, or across waterbodies. We believe that the broad applicability and versatility of a CIRE makes it a useful alternative for estimating SSU.
IMPLEMENTATION OF EVIDENCE‐BASED PRACTICE IN HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS: IMPLICATIONS FROM AGENT‐BASED MODELS
Authors: Frank Kenneth A. , Xu Ran , Penuel William R. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractMuch of the impact of a policy depends on how it is implemented, especially as mediated by organizations such as schools or hospitals. Here, we focus on how implementation of evidence‐based practices in human service organizations (e.g., schools, hospitals) is affected by intraorganizational network dynamics. In particular, we hypothesize intraorganizational behavioral divergence and network polarization are likely to occur when actors strongly identify with their organizations. Using agent‐based models, we find that when organizational identification is high, external change agents who attempt to direct organizations by introducing policy aligned messages (e.g., professional development emphasizing specific teaching practices) may unintentionally contribute to divergence in practice and polarization in networks, inhibiting full implementation of the desired practices as well as reducing organizational capacity to absorb new practices. Thus, the external change agent should consider the interaction between the type of message and the intraorganizational network dynamics driven by organizational identification.
Immunoglobulin prophylaxis in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant
Authors: Foster Jennifer H. , Cheng W. Susan , Nguyen Ngoc‐Yen , Krance Robert , Martinez Caridad 
Published: September 2018

AbstractBackgroundAfter allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), patients have an increased susceptibility to infections, thought to be due in part to hypogammaglobulinemia. Thus, prophylactic administration of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) has been administered to patients after HSCT as standard of care. This study compares the viral infection rate between dosing IVIG by IgG levels versus by routine monthly administration in pediatric patients after HSCT.ProcedureIn this retrospective chart review, we abstracted from electronic medical records data on pediatric patients undergoing HSCT from 2010 to 2012 for 6 months post‐HSCT. We compared rates of infection between patients treated with routine IVIG prophylaxis and patients given IVIG prophylaxis based on IgG tough levels (IgG levels were checked every 2 weeks).ResultsData were available and reviewed for 50 patients dosed with IVIG every 28 days (Group 1) and 100 patients dosed with IVIG based on IgG level > 400 mg/dl (Group 2). There was no significant difference in age (P = 0.98) or sex (P = 0.42), reason for HSCT, alemtuzumab use (P = 0.602), or reduced intensity conditioning (P = 1.00). Significantly more haploidentical donors were in Group 1 (P = 0.04), otherwise there was no significant difference in donor type between groups. Significantly less acute graft versus host disease occurred (P = <0.001) in Group 2 (P = <0.001). PCR documented viral infections were not significantly different (P = 0.412) (Table 1). Group 2 patients received significantly less IVIG (P < 0.001).ConclusionDosing IVIG to maintain an IgG level > 400 mg/dl is a cost‐effective and safe way to prevent viral infections in pediatric patients undergoing HSCT.
AdS3 Solutions with Exceptional Supersymmetry
Authors: Dibitetto Giuseppe , Lo Monaco Gabriele , Passias Achilleas , Petri Nicolò , Tomasiello Alessandro 
Published: September 2018

AbstractAmong the possible superalgebras that contain the AdS3 isometries, two interesting possibilities are the exceptional F(4) and G(3). Their R‐symmetry is respectively SO(7) and G2, and the amount of supersymmetry and . We find that there exist two (locally) unique solutions in type IIA supergravity that realize these superalgebras, and we provide their analytic expressions. In both cases, the internal space is obtained by a round six‐sphere fibred over an interval, with an O8‐plane at one end. The R‐symmetry is the symmetry group of the sphere; in the G(3) case, it is broken to G2 by fluxes. We also find several numerical solutions with G2 flavor symmetry, with various localized sources, including O2‐planes and O8‐planes.
Primordial Gravitational Waves and the Swampland
Authors: Dias Mafalda , Frazer Jonathan , Retolaza Ander , Westphal Alexander 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe swampland conjectures seek to distinguish effective field theories which can be consistently embedded in a theory of quantum gravity from those which can not (and are hence referred to as being in the swampland). We consider two such conjectures, known as the Swampland Distance and de Sitter Conjectures, showing that taken together they place bounds on the amplitude of primordial gravitational waves generated during single field slow‐roll inflation. The bounds depend on two parameters which for reasonable estimates restrict the tensor‐to‐scalar ratio to be within reach of future surveys.
Control charts to monitor rates and proportions
Authors: Lee Ho Linda , Fernandes Fidel Henrique , Bourguignon Marcelo 
Published: September 2018

AbstractIn this paper, we call attention for monitoring proportions and rates when they are not results of Bernoulli experiments. To deal with this problem, usually control charts based on Beta distributions are built as this distribution is a well‐known one. However, in practice, there are other distributions to be considered as Simplex and Unit Gamma distributions. The impact of the speed to signal a shift in the average proportion in terms of out‐of‐control average run length is measured when the control limits determined under a Beta distribution is equivocally used to monitor individual rates from Simplex or Unit Gamma distributions or vice versa.
Multivariable evaluation of maternal hemodynamic profile in pregnancy complicated by fetal growth restriction: prospective study
Authors: Di Martino D. D. , Ferrazzi E. , Garbin M. , Fusè F. , Izzo T. , Duvekot J. , Farina A. 
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo evaluate the association between fetal growth restriction (FGR) and maternal hemodynamic parameters using multivariable analysis, adjusting for major confounding factors, such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (pre‐eclampsia and gestational hypertension).MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted between January 2013 and April 2016. Two cohorts of patients were recruited, between 24 and 39 weeks of gestation, in a high‐risk outpatient setting. These cohorts comprised 49 appropriate‐for‐gestational‐age singleton fetuses and 93 that were FGR (abdominal circumference (AC) at recruitment in the second half of pregnancy ≤ 10th percentile with a previous normal AC at 20–22 weeks). Maternal echocardiography was performed at the time of enrolment and included hemodynamic parameters of systolic and diastolic function and cardiac remodeling indices. Data were analyzed using a multivariable generalized linear model to estimate the association of FGR with maternal hemodynamic parameters after adjusting for significant confounding factors.ResultsIn the multivariable analysis, after adjustment for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and smoking, FGR was associated with a 14% increase in maternal total vascular resistance, 16% reduction in cardiac output, 13% reduction in left ventricular mass and 11% reduction in heart rate; similar results were observed for the corresponding indexed parameters. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in the absence of FGR were associated with a 25% increase in total vascular resistance, 16% increase in left ventricular mass and 14% reduction in diastolic function; similar results were observed for the corresponding indexed parameters.ConclusionFGR is significantly and independently associated with several maternal hemodynamic parameters, even after adjustment for major confounding factors, such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Hindbrain morphometry and choroid plexus position in differential diagnosis of posterior fossa cystic malformations
Authors: Paladini D. , Donarini G. , Parodi S. , Volpe G. , Sglavo G. , Fulcheri E. 
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo assess the differential diagnostic significance of a series of quantitative and qualitative variables of the cerebellar vermis in fetuses with posterior fossa cystic malformation, including Dandy–Walker malformation (DWM), vermian hypoplasia (VH) and Blake's pouch cyst (BPC).MethodsThis was a retrospective study of confirmed cases of DWM, VH and BPC, diagnosed at the Fetal Medicine and Surgery Unit of the Federico II University between January 2005 and June 2013 or the Fetal Medicine and Surgery Unit of G. Gaslini Hospital between July 2013 and September 2017. All included cases had good‐quality three‐dimensional (3D) volume datasets of the posterior fossa, acquired by transvaginal ultrasound through the posterior fontanelle. The midsagittal view of the posterior fossa was the reference view for the study. We assessed brainstem–tentorium angle and brainstem–vermis angle (BVA), as well as craniocaudal (CCVD) and anteroposterior (APVD) vermian diameters and vermian area (VA), which were normalized by biparietal diameter (BPD) to take into account gestational age (CCVD/BPD × 100, APVD/BPD × 100 and VA/BPD × 100, respectively). Finally, the position of the fourth ventricular choroid plexus (4VCP) was defined as normal (‘up’) or abnormal (‘down’), relative to the roof/cyst inlet of the fourth ventricle.ResultsWe analyzed 67 fetuses with posterior fossa malformations (24 cases of DWM, 13 of VH and 30 of BPC). The mean gestational age at diagnosis was 23.6 weeks. Regardless of gestational age, the BVA differed significantly between the three groups, and the VA/BPD was able to differentiate between VH and BPC. In differentiating between VH and BPC, the greatest areas under the receiver–operating characteristics curve were those for VA/BPD ratio. The 4VCP position was down in all cases of DWM and VH, while it was up in all cases of BPC.ConclusionsOur data support the concept that VA/BPD ratio and 4VCP position may be used to differentiate between DWM, VH and BPC in the fetus. In our series, the position of the 4VCP had the highest accuracy, but a larger number of VH cases should be evaluated to confirm that an up position of the 4VCP indicates BPC while a down position indicates DWM or VH. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.