bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development and feasibility of the use of an assessment tool measuring treatment efficacy in patients with trimethylaminuria: A mixed methods study
Authors: Rutkowski Krzysztof , Rahman Yusof , Halter Mary 
Published: February 2019

AbstractTrimethylaminuria (TMAU) is a rare metabolic condition characterised by an unpleasant smell resembling rotting fish. Currently, the only measure of treatment efficacy is urine trimethylamine levels which do not always reflect the patient's experience of symptoms. A literature review did not find a specific tool to assess treatment efficacy from the patient's perspective. The aim of this study was to develop an assessment tool to provide a quantitative measure of treatment efficacy in patients diagnosed with TMAU before and after treatment and assess its acceptability (feasibility of use and face and content validity) to people living with TMAU. Mixed methods; a modified, four‐round Delphi by email and semi‐structured interviews conducted after clinical appointments. Delphi; Eight individuals living with TMAU from the TMAU forum, six medical consultants, and four dieticians in Metabolic Medicine in four National Health Service hospitals in England. Semi‐structured interviews; three patients with TMAU in two National Health Service hospitals, United Kingdom. The assessment tool contains 27 items distributed across four domains; Odour characteristics with 6 items, mental well‐being with 13 items, social well‐being with 5 items, and healthcare professionals support with 3 items. Semi‐structured interviews; views on the content and design of the tool. The co‐produced tool was successfully developed and considered acceptable to people living with TMAU. While further testing is needed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the assessment tool, the tool may serve as a prompt for questioning for clinicians diagnosing and treating TMAU.
Detection of chikungunya virus‐specific IgM on laser‐cut paper‐based device using pseudo‐particles as capture antigen
Authors: Theillet Gerald , Grard Gilda , Galla Mathilde , Maisse Carine , Enguehard Margot , Cresson Marie , Dalbon Pascal , Leparc‐Goffart Isabelle Leparc , Bedin Frederic 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe incidence of arbovirus infections has increased dramatically in recent decades, affecting hundreds of millions of people each year. The Togaviridae family includes the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), which is typically transmitted by
Aedes mosquitoes and causes a wide range of symptoms from flu‐like fever to severe arthralgia. Although conventional diagnostic tests can provide early diagnosis of CHIKV infections, access to these tests is often limited in developing countries. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop efficient, affordable, simple, rapid, and robust diagnostic tools that can be used in point‐of‐care settings. Early diagnosis is crucial to improve patient management and to reduce the risk of complications. A glass‐fiber laser‐cut microfluidic device (paper‐based analytical device [PAD]) was designed and evaluated in a proof of principle context, for the analysis of 30 µL of patient serum. Biological raw materials used for the functionalization of the PAD were first screened by MAC‐ELISA (IgM capture enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay) for CHIKV Immunoglobulin M (IgM) capture and then evaluated on the PAD using various human samples. Compared with viral lysate traditionally used for chikungunya (CHIK) serology, CHIKV pseudo‐particles (PPs) have proven to be powerful antigens for specific IgM capture. The PAD was able to detect CHIKV IgM in human sera in less than 10 minutes. Results obtained in patient sera showed a sensitivity of 70.6% and a specificity of around 98%. The PAD showed few cross‐reactions with other tropical viral diseases. The PAD could help health workers in the early diagnosis of tropical diseases such as CHIK, which require specific management protocols in at‐risk populations.
Performance of a novel sediment sampler as an add‐on unit for portable free‐fall penetrometers: Combining in situ geotechnical testing with sediment sampling
Authors: Bilici Cagdas , Stark Nina 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe investigation of mobile and loose surficial sediment layers is essential for a comprehensive seabed characterization. Portable free‐fall penetrometers (PFFPs) can deliver in situ geomechanical information about surficial sediment layers, which are difficult to preserve with traditional sampling tools. However, PFFP data interpretation can be hampered by the lack of high‐quality physical sediment samples for further verification and calibration. In this study, four new sampler configurations are tested as add‐ons for PFFPs to conduct high‐quality sediment sampling and geotechnical profiling simultaneously. Laboratory results showed that the recovery ratio of the collected samples decreased with increasing impact velocities of the probe. For impact velocities ≥ 2 m s−1, a cylindrical sampler body performed better than a conical body reaching a higher recovery ratio with less disturbance on density and saturation. Sharper carvers also increased the recovery ratio and decreased the disturbance. Field results revealed that the sample retention was challenged by energetic hydrodynamics in combination with coarse sediments (significant wave height in excess of 2 m). Overall, utilization of suction proved to be the most promising retaining mechanism under various hydrodynamic and soil conditions. Geomechanical profiles obtained with the sampler add‐ons were successfully calibrated to records obtained with the traditional PFFP tip geometries. In conclusion, the study introduced a novel sediment sampler configuration suitable for simultaneous geotechnical seabed profiling and sediment sampling using PFFP and provided insights into the impacts of sampling mechanisms on sample quality.
A Facile Strategy for Preparing Tough, Self‐Healing Double‐Network Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels Inspired by Mussel Cuticles
Authors: Guo Zhongwei , Mi Shengli , Sun Wei 
Published: February 2019

AbstractCompared with hydrogel‐like biological tissues such as cartilage, muscles, and blood vessels, current hyaluronic acid hydrogels often suffer from poor toughness and limited self‐healing properties. Herein, a facile and generalizable strategy inspired by mussel cuticles is presented to fabricate tough and self‐healing double‐network hyaluronic acid hydrogels. These hydrogels are composed of ductile, reversible Fe3+‐catechol interaction primary networks, and secondarily formed brittle, irreversible covalent networks. Based on this design strategy, the hyaluronic acid hydrogels are demonstrated to exhibit reinforced mechanical strength while maintaining a rapid self‐healing property. In addition, by simply regulating pH or UV irradiation time, the mechanical properties of the hydrogels can be regulated conveniently through variations between the primary and secondary networks.
Design and fabrication of triple‐band folded dipole antenna for GPS/DCS/WLAN/WiMAX applications
Authors: Park Jiwoong , Jeong Minjoo , Hussain Niamat , Rhee Seungyeop , Kim Panyoul , Kim Nam 
Published: February 2019

AbstractIn this article, a triple‐band folded dipole antenna consists of modified planar dual‐element folded dipoles and a monopole for global positioning system (GPS)/digital communication system (DCS)/wireless local area network (WLAN)/worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) applications is proposed. The triple‐band operation is enabled by applying a bilateral symmetric structure and coupling by adding stubs to the wideband antenna. The antenna passbands are satisfying the typical bandwidth requirement for GPS, DCS, WLAN, and WiMAX bands. The antenna is printed on FR4 substrate (εr = 4.3, tanδ = 0.025) having a thickness of 1.6 mm. Simulation and measurement results show that the antenna presents stable radiation pattern with a moderate gain at the desired frequency bands.
Application of a directional palladium‐103 brachytherapy device on a curved surface
Authors: Veltchev I. , Price R. , Chen X. , Howell K. , Meyer J. , Ma C.‐M. 
Published: February 2019

PurposeThe directional planar palladium‐103 LDR device (CivaSheet) may be used for intraoperative implantation at the interface between the tumor site and healthy tissue. Its dosimetric properties have been studied in the ideal case of application on a flat surface. The dosimetric impact of implanting this highly directional device on a curved surface that may be encountered in clinical treatments is analyzed.MethodsCivaSheet is designed as an array of directional palladium‐103 sources (CivaDots). From the postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans of three patients, the shape of each implanted CivaSheet was reconstructed. In order to obtain a realistic estimate of the distribution of curvatures, the mean radius of curvature at the location of each CivaDot was calculated. A Monte Carlo simulation (FLUKA) of a single CivaDot was designed, based upon published geometry and material specifications. Both the radial dose function analog and the two‐dimensional anisotropy function analog for the CivaDot were validated in comparison with film measurements and benchmarked to published Monte Carlo data. A value for the dose‐rate constant Λ = 0.587(19) cGy/h/U for a CivaDot source in water was calculated as well. Knowledge of the dose distribution in the vicinity of each source allowed the dose at any point around CivaSheets of different curvatures and orientations to be calculated.ResultsThe local radius of curvature was found to be primarily between 2 and 8 cm in all three patient implants. On the unshielded side of an inward‐facing curved CivaSheet implant of radius 2 cm, the calculated dose at 0.5 cm depth exceeded the prescribed dose by ∼20%, while on the shielded side the dose increased by a factor of two, thus compromising the shielding efficiency of the original design. On the unshielded side of an outward‐facing curved implant, the dose at 0.5 cm depth decreased by ∼20%.ConclusionsWhen tumor bed curvature can be estimated from the preplanning CT scan, the results from this study provide quantitative guide for modifying the source strength to achieve the desired clinical results. In many intraoperative cases, however, accurate preplanning based on surface curvature may not be practical. In such situations, knowledge of the dosimetric impact of the surface curvature provides motivation for avoiding implantation geometries that can lead to either over/underdosing the target, or excess dose to healthy tissue.
Examining item content validity using property fitting analysis via multidimensional scaling
Authors: Ding Cody 
Published: February 2019

AbstractObjectivesMultiple‐item measuring instruments are frequently used in a wide range of disciplines for the purpose of research in substantive areas. The quality of items in these instruments determine to a large extent whether the results are trustworthy. In this paper, we suggested to use property fitting analysis to evaluate the appropriateness of items content validity based on explicit item property criteria.MethodsUsing Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale as an example, item property fitting analyses via multidimensional scaling model was used to quantitatively evaluate the properties of items based on rating data from 12 counselors.ResultsThe results of the analyses indicated that using explicit item property criteria to select items for subsequent psychometric analyses improved the item quality in terms of reliability and factor structure.ConclusionsItem property fitting analysis seemed to provide the researcher a viable quantitative method when evaluating item content validity.
Motor amplitudes may predict electromyography‐confirmed radiculopathy in patients referred for radiating limb pain
Authors: McNeish Brendan , Hearn Sandra , Craig Anita , Laidlaw Ann , Ziadeh Mark , Richardson James K. 
Published: February 2019

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Radiculopathy is diagnosed by needle electromyography, with nerve conduction studies excluding alternative diagnoses. Methods: In patients referred for electrodiagnostic evaluation of radiating limb pain, we compared ulnar motor amplitudes between those with and without electromyographically confirmed C8 radiculopathy, as well as fibular motor amplitudes between those with and without electromyographically confirmed L5 radiculopathy. Results: Patients with electromyographically confirmed C8 or L5 radiculopathy demonstrated decreased ulnar or fibular motor amplitudes, respectively, as compared to patients without radiculopathy. Receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrated good diagnostic accuracy, with areas under the curve of 0.85 and 0.82, respectively. Optimal cut‐offs for electromyographically confirmed C8 and L5 radiculopathies were 10.2 mV and 3.6 mV, respectively, with associated sensitivities/specificities of 0.86/0.74 and 0.92/0.60. Discussion: Ulnar and fibular motor amplitudes may have clinical utility in assessing the likelihood of patients demonstrating electromyographically confirmed C8 and L5 radiculopathies with active denervation. The findings may be particularly useful in patients intolerant of needle electromyography. Muscle Nerve 59:561–561, 2019
Effects of platforms, size filter cutoffs, and targeted regions of cytogenomic microarray on detection of copy number variants and uniparental disomy in prenatal diagnosis: Results from 5026 pregnancies
Authors: Wang Jia‐Chi , Radcliff Jeff , Coe Sandra J. , Mahon Loretta W. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractObjectiveWe evaluated the effects of platforms, size filter cutoffs, and targeted regions of cytogenomic microarray (CMA) on the detection of copy number variants (CNVs) and uniparental disomy (UPD) in prenatal diagnosis.MethodsFive thousand twenty‐six consecutive prenatal specimens (>98% high‐risk pregnancy) were studied by high‐resolution CMA, with cutoffs of 50 kb for losses and 200 kb for gains in nontargeted regions and 20 kb for losses and 100 kb for gains in targeted regions. We assessed actual detection rates using the current assay as well as hypothetical detection rates using platforms with the same or lower resolution and smaller or larger cutoffs.ResultsThe detection rate of our current assay was 11.2% (562 of 5026), including abnormal findings in 543 cases and likely pathogenic variants in 19. The hypothetical decrease in the overall detection of variants (excluding likely benign) and UPD ranged from 3.8% to 23.0%. For the subgroup of pathogenic and likely pathogenic CNVs < 1 Mb, the decrease of detection ranged from 2.7% to 24.3%.ConclusionsThese findings underscore the significant effects of chosen CMA platform, as well as size filter cutoffs and targeted regions used in data analysis, on detection of CNVs and UPDs in a cohort of prenatal cases.
Test‐Retest Reliability of the ABILOCO Questionnaire in Individuals with Stroke
Authors: de Menezes Kênia K. P. , Avelino Patrick R. , Faria‐Fortini Iza , Basílio Marluce L. , Nascimento Lucas R. , Teixeira‐Salmela Luci F. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe ABILOCO is a self‐reported questionnaire, specific for individuals with stroke, for the assessment of ability of locomotion. The ABILOCO has been investigated using the Rasch model and has shown satisfactory measurement properties. However, its test‐retest reliability has not been investigated.ObjectiveTo investigate the test‐retest reliability, that is, agreement, systematic and random variability of the ABILOCO Questionnaire in individuals with chronic stroke.DesignA test‐retest reliability study.SettingResearch laboratory.ParticipantsThirty‐one individuals (21 men and 10 women; mean age, 60 years), who had poststroke hemiparesis.InterventionNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasurementThe ABILOCO was applied twice, on two occasions, 5 to 7 days apart. Test‐retest reliability was investigated, as follows: agreement by the calculation of intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs); systematic variability by the change in the mean; random variability by the standard error of measurement (SEM) and smallest real difference (SRD).ResultsTwo outliers were identified in the sample. The ICC values for the whole sample were 0.76 (CI 95% 0.56 to 0.88), whereas the SEM (SEM%) and SRD (SRD%) were 0.55 (21%) and 1.52 (58%), respectively.ConclusionThe ABILOCO showed to be reliable to be applied within clinical and research contexts for the assessment of changes in locomotion ability of a group of individuals with chronic stroke. However, it appears to be less suitable to detect changes at individual levels.Level of EvidenceIII.
Ultrasound‐Guided Needle Electromyography of the External Anal Sphincter
Authors: Park Dong Yoon , Park Joo Hyun 
Published: February 2019

BackgroundAnal sphincter needle electromyography (EMG) is a useful tool to evaluate various neurologic lesions. However, landmark‐based needle placement has risks of missing the intended target including risk of bowel penetration. Ultrasound guidance has been widely used to enhance needle placement for various interventional procedures, but it has not been previously reported for use in anal sphincter EMG.ObjectiveTo demonstrate the accuracy of ultrasound‐guided needle insertion into the external anal sphincter (EAS).DesignObservational study.SettingTertiary care university hospital.ParticipantsA single live male participant and six fresh cadavers.MethodsA preliminary study was conducted in a single live male participant to investigate the utility of ultrasonography imaging for the EAS and proper transducer location. After this preliminary study, 12 sides of the EAS in six fresh cadavers were assessed. A hooked fine wire was inserted into the EAS under ultrasound guidance.Main Outcome MeasuresAccuracy of needle placement was assessed after cadaver dissection.ResultsThe EAS was easily identified with ultrasound in preliminary and cadaver studies. The needle tips were located in the EAS in 11 of 12 cadavers.ConclusionsUltrasound‐guided needle EMG of the EAS is convenient and accurate in cadavers and may be useful in clinical practice. Further studies comparing ultrasound‐guided and landmark‐guided needle EMG of the EAS in live patients will be needed.
Pyridinic‐N Protected Synthesis of 3D Nitrogen‐Doped Porous Carbon with Increased Mesoporous Defects for Oxygen Reduction
Authors: Luo Jin , Wang Kangjun , Hua Xing , Wang Wang , Li Jun , Zhang Shiming , Chen Shengli 
Published: February 2019

AbstractNitrogen (N)‐doped carbons are potential nonprecious metal catalysts to replace Pt for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Pyridinic‐N‐C is believed to be the most active N group for catalyzing ORR. In this work, using zinc phthalocyanine as a precursor effectively overcomes the serious loss of pyridinic‐N, which is commonly regarded as the biggest obstacle to catalytic performance enhancement upon adopting a second pyrolysis process, for the preparation of a 3D porous N‐doped carbon framework (NDCF). The results show only ≈14% loss in pyridinic‐N proportion in the Zn‐containing sample during the second pyrolysis process. In comparison, a loss of ≈72% pyridinic‐N occurs for the non‐Zn counterpart. The high pyridinic‐N proportion, the porous carbon framework produced upon NaCl removal, and the increased mesoporous defects in the second pyrolysis process make the as‐prepared catalyst an excellent electrocatalyst for ORR, exhibiting a half‐wave potential (E1/2 = 0.88 V) up to 33 mV superior to state‐of‐the‐art Pt/C and high four‐electron selectivity (n > 3.83) in alkaline solution, which is among the best ORR activities reported for N‐doped carbon catalysts. Furthermore, only ≈18 mV degradation in E1/2 occurs after an 8000 cycles' accelerating stability test, manifesting the outstanding stability of the as‐prepared catalyst.
Optimising linear taxon sequences derived from phylogenetic trees—a reply to Haston & al.
Authors: Hawthorne William D. , Hughes Colin E. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractNumerous linear taxon sequences can be generated from large phylogenetic trees raising questions about what criteria should be used to select an optimal sequence for collections of specimens and published taxonomic outputs including field guides. Possible criteria and ways to implement them are discussed in relation to the sequence of Angiosperm families proposed by Haston & al. (2007). We define a particular spatial arrangement in one or more dimensions of the terminal nodes of a tree as a projection of that tree; a projection method is the set of rules by which the projection is achieved. We show that the projection of the Angiosperm phylogeny to a linear sequence, proposed by Haston & al. (2007), is not ideal because it is incompletely optimized for incompletely specified criteria. Tree projection methods that promote stability and incorporation of morphological data used in herbaria and other identification guides are proposed.
Contrasting the general with the particular in phylogenetics—a proposal to keep the meanings of mono/paraphyletic and clade/grade separated
Authors: Bertrand Yann 
Published: February 2019

AbstractClade and monophyletic group on one hand and grade and paraphyletic group on the other hand are commonly used as pairs of interchangeable terms. I question this apparent synonymy and propose that “monophyly” and “paraphyly” should refer to a property of a set, whereas “clade” and “grade” should apply to individuals resulting from evolutionary process.
Extreme environmental conditions and phylogenetic inheritance: systematics of Myopordon and Oligochaeta (Asteraceae, Cardueae‐Centaureinae)
Authors: Hidalgo Oriane , Garcia-Jacas Núria , Garnatje Teresa , Romashchenko Kostyantyn , Susanna Alfonso , Siljak-Yakovlev Sonja 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe genus Myopordon, with six perennial species from Iran, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey, had until recently been placed in the Carduinae subtribe. Oligochaeta, composed of four annual species from the Caucasus, India, the Near East and Pakistan, was considered related to the genus Rhaponticum in the Centaureinae subtribe. The two genera have apparently not much in common; however, evidence that both are closely related within the Rhaponticum group was provided by recent molecular phylogenetic reconstructions. New and previously published cytogenetical (fluorescent in situ hybridization of rDNA genes, fluorochrome banding of AT‐ and GC‐rich regions, silver nitrate staining of active ribosomal genes, genome size assessment), karyological, molecular phylogenetic and palynological data are evaluated in the light of the recent evidence concerning the relationships of Myopordon and Oligochaeta. Myopordon presents a constant chromosome number and a homogeneous pattern in physical mapping of rDNA genes, contrasting with a strong variability in chromosome banding, genome size and pollen‐type. Such tendencies could be related to the environmental pressures in the high mountains where species of Myopordon occur. This also accords well with the phylogeny and the geographic distribution of the genus. Phylogenetic reconstructions resolve Oligochaeta as being nested in the clade of Myopordon species. The exceptional cytogenetical, karyological, as well as palynological characters of Oligochaeta are apparently derived from a Myopordon‐like ancestor.