bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Follow-Up Study of Young Adults Treated for Unilateral Complete Cleft Lip, Alveolus, and Palate by a Treatment Protocol Including Two-Stage Palatoplasty: Speech Outcomes
Authors: Kappen Isabelle Francisca Petronella Maria , Bittermann Dirk , Janssen Laura , Bittermann Gerhard Koendert Pieter , Boonacker Chantal , Haverkamp Sarah , de Wilde Hester , Van Der Heul Marise , Specken Tom FJMC , Koole Ron , Kon Moshe , Breugem Corstiaan Cornelis , Mink van der Molen Aebele Barber 
Published: May 2017

Background No consensus exists on the optimal treatment protocol for orofacial clefts or the optimal timing of cleft palate closure. This study investigated factors influencing speech outcomes after two-stage palate repair in adults with a non-syndromal complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP).
Methods This was a retrospective analysis of adult patients with a UCLP who underwent two-stage palate closure and were treated at our tertiary cleft centre. Patients ≥17 years of age were invited for a final speech assessment. Their medical history was obtained from their medical files, and speech outcomes were assessed by a speech pathologist during the follow-up consultation.
Results Forty-eight patients were included in the analysis, with a mean age of 21 years (standard deviation, 3.4 years). Their mean age at the time of hard and soft palate closure was 3 years and 8.0 months, respectively. In 40% of the patients, a pharyngoplasty was performed. On a 5-point intelligibility scale, 84.4% received a score of 1 or 2; meaning that their speech was intelligible. We observed a significant correlation between intelligibility scores and the incidence of articulation errors (P<0.001). In total, 36% showed mild to moderate hypernasality during the speech assessment, and 11%–17% of the patients exhibited increased nasalance scores, assessed through nasometry.
Conclusions The present study describes long-term speech outcomes after two-stage palatoplasty with hard palate closure at a mean age of 3 years old. We observed moderate long-term intelligibility scores, a relatively high incidence of persistent hypernasality, and a high pharyngoplasty incidence.
Apparent ionospheric total electron content variations prior to major earthquakes due to electric fields created by tectonic stresses
Authors: Kelley Michael C. , Swartz Wesley E. , Heki Kosuke 
Published: May 2017

AbstractGrowing evidence for ionospheric signatures of impending earthquakes comes from electron content measurements along slanted paths from GPS satellites to multiple ground stations located up to 500 km away from the epicenters. These slant total electron content (STEC) measurements deviate from the classic U‐shape pattern, starting about 40 min to over an hour before major earthquakes. Unlike other naturally occurring STEC fluctuations at midlatitudes, we show here that these earthquake‐induced deviations are simultaneous over a wide geographical area and do not propagate, thereby indicating a ground‐based origin. Prior to the 11 March 2011 Tohoku‐Oki earthquake (Mw 9.0), the deviations were as much as 10% of the undisturbed STEC. We argue that such deviations must be due to an electric field‐forced rise or fall of the main ionosphere with little change in the vertical electron density profile. Hence, “apparent” is used in the title. We show how stress‐related underground electric fields penetrate to 80 km altitude (above which penetration to the main ionosphere easily occurs) with magnitudes high enough to create STEC variations comparable to those observed. Since many thousands of GPS receivers exist worldwide, our theory suggests the possibility of early warning systems that could provide 10 to 20 min notice prior to large earthquakes, after allowing time for signal processing. This theory for prequake‐induced STEC fluctuations also explains the ground‐based ULF magnetic field data acquired by Fraser‐Smith et al. 40 min prior to the Loma Prieta earthquake.
Solar wind controls on Mercury's magnetospheric cusp
Authors: He Maosheng , Vogt Joachim , Heyner Daniel , Zhong Jun 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThis study assesses the response of the cusp to solar wind changes comprehensively, using 2848 orbits of MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) observation. The assessment entails four steps: (1) propose and validate an approach to estimate the solar wind magnetic field (interplanetary magnetic field (IMF)) for MESSENGER's cusp transit; (2) define an index σ measuring the intensity of the magnetic disturbance which significantly peaks within the cusp and serves as an indicator of the cusp activity level; (3) construct an empirical model of σ as a function of IMF and Mercury's heliocentric distance rsun, through linear regression; and (4) use the model to estimate and compare the polar distribution of the disturbance σ under different conditions for a systematic comparison. The comparison illustrates that the disturbance peak over the cusp is strongest and widest extending in local time for negative IMF Bx and negative IMF Bz, and when Mercury is around the perihelion. Azimuthal shifts are associated with both IMF By and rsun: the cusp moves toward dawn when IMF By or rsun decrease. These dependences are explained in terms of the IMF Bx‐controlled dayside magnetospheric topology, the component reconnection model applied to IMF By and Bz, and the variability of solar wind ram pressure associated with heliocentric distance rsun. The applicability of the component reconnection model on IMF By indicates that at Mercury reconnection occurs at lower shear angles than at Earth.
Strain release at the trench during shallow slow slip: The example of Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
Authors: Jiang Yan , Liu Zhen , Davis Earl E. , Schwartz Susan Y. , Dixon Timothy H. , Voss Nick , Malservisi Rocco , Protti Marino 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe near‐trench behavior of subduction megathrust faults is critical for understanding earthquake hazard and tsunami generation. The shallow subduction interface is typically located in unconsolidated sediments that are considered too weak to accumulate elastic strain. However, the spectrum of shallow fault slip behavior is still elusive, due in large part to the lack of near‐field observations. Here we combine measurements from seafloor pressure sensors near the trench and an onshore GPS network in a time‐dependent inversion to image the initiation and migration of a well‐documented slow slip event (SSE) in 2007 at the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. Our results show that the shallow SSE initiated on the shallow subduction interface at a depth of ~15 km, where pore fluid pressure is inferred to be high, and propagated all the way to the trench. The migrating event may have triggered a second subevent that occurred 1 month later. Our results document the release of elastic strain at the shallow part of the subduction megathrust and suggest prior accumulation of elastic strain. In conjunction with near‐trench shallow slow slip recently reported for the Hikurangi subduction zone and trench breaching ruptures revealed in some large earthquakes, our results suggest that near‐trench strain accumulation and release at the shallower portions of the subduction interface is more common than previously thought.
Tunable Triazole‐Phosphine‐Copper Catalysts for the Synthesis of 2‐Aryl‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazoles from Benzyl Alcohols and Diamines by Acceptorless Dehydrogenation and Borrowing Hydrogen Reactions
Authors: Xu Zhaojun , Wang Duo‐Sheng , Yu Xiaoli , Yang Yongchun , Wang Dawei 
Published: May 2017

AbstractTriazole‐phosphine‐copper complexes (TAP−Cu) have been synthesized and applied as tunable and efficient catalysts for the selective synthesis of fluoro‐substituted 2‐aryl‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazole and 1‐benzyl‐2‐aryl‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazole derivatives from simple alcohols in only one step. TAP−Cu exhibited excellent and tunable catalytic activity for both dehydrogenation and borrowing hydrogen reactions with more than 80 examples being demonstrated for the first time. It was observed that the ligand played a critical role in catalyst activity. Mechanistic studies and deuterium labeling experiments indicated that the reactions proceeded by an initial and reversible alcohol dehydrogenation resulting in a copper hydride intermediate. This was also supported by the direct observation of a diagnostic copper hydride signal by solid‐state infrared spectroscopy. The TAP−Cu‐H complex showed absorptions at 912 cm−1 that could be assigned to copper−hydride stretches. Furthermore, the direct trapping of an intermediate bisimine was also successfully performed.magnified image
Synthesis of Amide‐Linked Cyclic Dinucleotide Analogues with Pyrimidine Bases
Authors: Pal Chandan , Chakraborty Tushar Kanti 
Published: May 2017

AbstractA convenient procedure has been developed for the synthesis of C2‐symmetrical cyclic dinucleotide analogues that contain all‐pyrimidine bases (cytosine, uracil and thymine) with amide bonds in place of natural phosphodiester linkages, starting from commercially available d‐glucose diacetonide (GDA). The Vorbrüggen glycosylation of a common intermediate by using various pyrimidine bases was employed as the key step in the synthesis.
Defining the minimal clinically important difference for olfactory outcomes in the surgical treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Levy Joshua M. , Mace Jess C. , Bodner Todd E. , Alt Jeremiah A. , Smith Timothy L. 
Published: May 2017

BackgroundOlfactory dysfunction is a common and defining symptom of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Many measures of olfactory dysfunction in CRS are limited by scoring criteria defined within general populations with interpretations of statistical significance to infer clinically meaningful improvement. In this investigation we define a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for the Brief Smell Identification Test (BSIT) in CRS patients electing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).MethodsA multicenter cohort of 290 adult patients electing ESS for medically recalcitrant CRS were prospectively enrolled between March 2011 and June 2015 and completed BSIT evaluations before and after ESS. Distribution and anchor‐based analytic approaches were utilized to define MCID values of the BSIT across patient cofactors.ResultsA total of 92 (∽32%) patients were found to have preoperative olfactory dysfunction (BSIT <9), significantly associated with nasal polyposis (χ2 = 35.0; p < 0.001). The effect‐size distribution‐based approach identified 1.0 as a MCID criterion value between “small” and “medium” effect (range, 0.61‐1.52) overall. Significant mean postoperative change (ΔM) was reported for patients with olfactory dysfunction (ΔM = 2.28; p < 0.001), both with (n = 54; ΔM = 2.52; p < 0.001) and without (n = 38; ΔM = 1.95; p < 0.001) nasal polyposis, significantly exceeding the MCID criterion. Anchor‐based approaches with regression modeling confirmed associations between MCID values and postoperative changes to olfactory‐specific survey responses (p < 0.001).ConclusionClinically meaningful change in BSIT scores may be defined as an absolute value difference of at least 1.0 unit for heterogeneous patients electing ESS for CRS. Significantly exceeding this criterion may be restricted to CRS patients with baseline olfactory dysfunction, regardless of nasal polyposis.
Insulin—From its Discovery to the Industrial Synthesis of Modern Insulin Analogues
Authors: Moroder Luis , Musiol Hans‐Jürgen 
Published: May 2017

AbstractAfter the discovery of insulin as a drug for diabetes, the pharmaceutical companies were faced with the challenge to meet the demand for insulin with the highest possible degree of purity in the required quantities from animal sources. The observation of an immune reaction of patients to insulin from animal pancreatic extracts made the availability of human insulin of highest priority. Only the enzyme‐catalyzed semisynthesis at the C‐terminus of the insulin B‐chain led to a commercial process, but it depended on porcine insulin and was aggravated by supply concerns. The advent of rDNA technology allowed the commercial preparation of human insulin by biosynthesis in virtually unlimited quantities. An increased chemical diversity was only envisaged through chemical synthesis, which was simplified by advances in solid‐phase peptide synthesis and chemical ligation. Single‐chain insulin precursors are now being synthesized that should enable fast screening of insulin analogues for improved biophysical, biological, and thus promising new therapeutic properties, as well as for the industrial manufacture of insulin analogues not accessible by biosynthesis.
Performance study of modified calcium magnesium acetate (MCMA) in the process of high temperature CO2 capture and the application of spent MCMA for sequential SO2 removal
Authors: Sun Xiaoru , Fang Dongdong , Zhang Lihui , Duan Feng , Sun Yunlan 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe modified calcium magnesium acetate (MCMA) has the similar characteristics and properties to those of CMA and a lower production cost. In this study, the effect of temperature on the performance of MCMA in the cyclic calcination/carbonation reaction (CCCR) process was investigated. The pore structure characteristics of the spent MCMA particles were also studied. A tubular furnace reactor was used to study the sulfation reaction characteristics and kinetic characteristics of the spent MCMA after CCCR. The microstructure and the constituent elements of the spent MCMA after sulfation reaction were analyzed by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometry (EDS). The adsorption characteristics of MCMA were found similar to the analytically pure CMA in the CCCR process. The carbonation conversion of MCMA decreases significantly first and then varies little with increasing the cycle numbers. The sulfation process of all spent MCMA can be divided into two distinct stages including the chemical reaction‐controlled stage and the product layer diffusion‐controlled stage. The shrinking unreacted core model is appropriate to analyze the sulfation kinetic characteristics of the spent MCMA in the sulfation process. The sulfation conversions of the spent MCMA decrease gradually with increasing the cycle numbers of CCCR, while the MCMA‐30 (the modified CMA cycled 30 times in the CCCR process) still shows a sulfation conversion of 35.48%, indicating that the spent MCMA can be used as an ideal desulfurizer before the fresh sorbent serving as a CO2 carrier in the CCCR process. © 2017 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Association of MicroRNA‐618 Expression With Altered Frequency and Activation of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Rossato Marzia , Affandi Alsya J. , Thordardottir Soley , Wichers Catharina G. K. , Cossu Marta , Broen Jasper C. A. , Moret Frederique M. , Bossini‐Castillo Lara , Chouri Eleni , van Bon Lenny , Wolters Femke , Marut Wioleta , van der Kroef Maarten , Silva‐Cardoso Sandra , Bekker Cornelis P. J. , Dolstra Harry , van Laar Jacob M. , Martin Javier , van Roon Joel A. G. , Reedquist Kris A. , Beretta Lorenzo , Radstake Timothy R. D. J. 
Published: May 2017

ObjectivePlasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) are a critical source of type I interferons (IFNs) that can contribute to the onset and maintenance of autoimmunity. Molecular mechanisms leading to PDC dysregulation and a persistent type I IFN signature are largely unexplored, especially in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), a disease in which PDCs infiltrate fibrotic skin lesions and produce higher levels of IFNα than those in healthy controls. This study was undertaken to investigate potential microRNA (miRNA)–mediated epigenetic mechanisms underlying PDC dysregulation and type I IFN production in SSc.MethodsWe performed miRNA expression profiling and validation in highly purified PDCs obtained from the peripheral blood of 3 independent cohorts of healthy controls and SSc patients. Possible functions of miRNA‐618 (miR‐618) on PDC biology were identified by overexpression in healthy PDCs.ResultsExpression of miR‐618 was up‐regulated in PDCs from SSc patients, including those with early disease who did not present with skin fibrosis. IFN regulatory factor 8, a crucial transcription factor for PDC development and activation, was identified as a target of miR‐618. Overexpression of miR‐618 reduced the development of PDCs from CD34+ cells in vitro and enhanced their ability to secrete IFNα, mimicking the PDC phenotype observed in SSc patients.ConclusionUp‐regulation of miR‐618 suppresses the development of PDCs and increases their ability to secrete IFNα, potentially contributing to the type I IFN signature observed in SSc patients. Considering the importance of PDCs in the pathogenesis of SSc and other diseases characterized by a type I IFN signature, miR‐618 potentially represents an important epigenetic target to regulate immune system homeostasis in these conditions.
A Seventh‐Degree Cubature Kalman Filter
Authors: Meng Dong , Miao Lingjuan , Shao Haijun , Shen Jun 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe fifth‐degree cubature Kalman filter (CKF) has been proved to be a kind of algorithm that has higher precision than the third‐degree CKF and unscented Kalman filter (UKF). In order to further improve the performance of CKF, the seventh‐degree CKF is proposed in this paper by expanding the spherical‐radial rule, and a new kind of deterministic sampling method is derived based on the seventh‐degree cubature rule. Through the comparison in target tracking simulation, the seventh‐degree CKF methods are shown to be able to enhance filtering precision compared to the fifth‐degree CKF, the third‐degree CKF and the UKF filter.
Lebesgue‐p NORM Convergence OF Fractional‐Order PID‐Type Iterative Learning Control for Linear Systems
Authors: Li Lei 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThis paper discusses first‐ and second‐order fractional‐order PID‐type iterative learning control strategies for a class of Caputo‐type fractional‐order linear time‐invariant system. First, the additivity of the fractional‐order derivative operators is exploited by the property of Laplace transform of the convolution integral, whilst the absolute convergence of the Mittag‐Leffler function on the infinite time interval is induced and some properties of the state transmit function of the fractional‐order system are achieved via the Gamma and Bata function characteristics. Second, by using the above properties and the generalized Young inequality of the convolution integral, the monotone convergence of the developed first‐order learning strategy is analyzed and the monotone convergence of the second‐order learning scheme is derived after finite iterations, when the tracking errors are assessed in the form of the Lebesgue‐p norm. The resultant convergences exhibit that not only the fractional‐order system input and output matrices and the fractional‐order derivative learning gain, but also the system state matrix and the proportional learning gain, and fractional‐order integral learning gain dominate the convergence. Numerical simulations illustrate the validity and the effectiveness of the results.
Prognostic impact of the cumulative dose and dose intensity of everolimus in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
Authors: Berardi Rossana , Torniai Mariangela , Pusceddu Sara , Spada Francesca , Ibrahim Toni , Brizzi Maria Pia , Antonuzzo Lorenzo , Ferolla Piero , Panzuto Francesco , Silvestris Nicola , Partelli Stefano , Ferretti Benedetta , Freddari Federica , Gucciardino Calogero , Testa Enrica , Concas Laura , Murgioni Sabina , Bongiovanni Alberto , Zichi Clizia , Riva Nada , Rinzivillo Maria , Brunetti Oronzo , Giustini Lucio , Di Costanzo Francesco , Delle Fave Gianfranco , Fazio Nicola , De Braud Filippo , Falconi Massimo , Cascinu Stefano 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe aim of this work is to assess if cumulative dose (CD) and dose intensity (DI) of everolimus may affect survival of advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) patients. One hundred and sixteen patients (62 males and 54 females, median age 55 years) with advanced PNETs were treated with everolimus for ≥3 months. According to a Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis, patients were stratified into two groups, with CD ≤ 3000 mg (Group A; n = 68) and CD > 3000 mg (Group B; n = 48). The response rate and toxicity were comparable in the two groups. However, patients in group A experienced more dose modifications than patients in group B. Median OS was 24 months in Group A while in Group B it was not reached (HR: 26.9; 95% CI: 11.0–76.7; P < 0.0001). Patients who maintained a DI higher than 9 mg/day experienced a significantly longer OS and experienced a trend to higher response rate. Overall, our study results showed that both CD and DI of everolimus play a prognostic role for patients with advanced PNETs treated with everolimus. This should prompt efforts to continue everolimus administration in responsive patients up to at least 3000 mg despite delays or temporary interruptions.
Cerebral white matter lesion burden is associated with the degree of aortic valve calcification and predicts peri‐procedural cerebrovascular events in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)
Authors: Doerner Jonas , Kupczyk Patrick A. , Wilsing Marius , Luetkens Julian A. , Storm Klaus , Fimmers Rolf , Hickethier Tilman , Eichhorn Lars , Naehle Claas P. , Schild Hans H. , Werner Nikos , Nickenig Georg , Ghanem Alexander 
Published: May 2017

ObjectivesTo investigate the impact of aortic valve calcification and brain morphology on acute peri‐procedural cerebrovascular events (CVEs) in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).BackgroundAortic valve calcification and stenosis can be assessed with echocardiography. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) depicts and quantifies morphological signs of hypoperfusion and vascular embolism, which is of special interest in patients with severe aortic stenosis. Furthermore, subjects who undergo TAVI are prone to suffer of clinically silent peri‐procedural CVEs.MethodsA total of 119 patients referred to TAVI were investigated for aortic valve calcification using trans‐esophageal echocardiography. Cerebral MRI prior to and immediate after implantation was performed in all patients using a dedicated scan protocol. Prior to TAVI, brain morphology was characterized. Post TAVI, brains were investigated for the onset of acute peri‐procedural CVEs using diffusion weighted imaging (DWI).ResultsSeventy‐eight patients (65.5%) revealed acute peri‐procedural CVEs on MRI after TAVI with a favor of the left hemisphere (57.5%). The degree of valve calcification was associated with peri‐procedural CVEs. Patients with a high WML burden had an increased risk for CVEs ((OR) 2.36 (95% CI: 1.09–5.15; P = 0.037)), especially when distributed periventricular ((OR: 3.27; 95% CI: 1.47–7.26; P = 0.0038)).ConclusionIn patients undergoing TAVI, the degree of aortic valve calcification and periventricular WML burden were correlated with acute peri‐procedural CVEs. Future studies are needed to evaluate their independent value for the long‐term clinical outcome.