bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Incidence, Diagnosis, and Management of QT Prolongation Induced by Cancer Therapies: A Systematic Review
Authors: Porta‐Sánchez Andreu , Gilbert Cameron , Spears Danna , Amir Eitan , Chan Joyce , Nanthakumar Kumaraswamy , Thavendiranathan Paaladinesh 
Published: December 2017

Background

The cardiovascular complications of cancer therapeutics are the focus of the burgeoning field of cardio‐oncology. A common challenge in this field is the impact of cancer drugs on cardiac repolarization (ie,
QT
prolongation) and the potential risk for the life‐threatening arrhythmia torsades de pointes. Although
QT
prolongation is not a perfect marker of arrhythmia risk, this has become a primary safety metric among oncologists. Cardiologists caring for patients receiving cancer treatment should become familiar with the drugs associated with
QT
prolongation, its incidence, and appropriate management strategies to provide meaningful consultation in this complex clinical scenario.

Methods and Results

In this article, we performed a systematic review (using Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines) of commonly used cancer drugs to determine the incidence of
QT
prolongation and clinically relevant arrhythmias. We calculated summary estimates of the incidence of all and clinically relevant
QT
prolongation as well as arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. We then describe strategies to prevent, identify, and manage
QT
prolongation in patients receiving cancer therapy. We identified a total of 173 relevant publications. The weighted incidence of any corrected
QT
(
QT
c) prolongation in our systematic review in patients treated with conventional therapies (eg, anthracyclines) ranged from 0% to 22%, although
QT
c >500 ms, arrhythmias, or sudden cardiac death was extremely rare. The risk of
QT
c prolongation with targeted therapies (eg, small molecular tyrosine kinase inhibitors) ranged between 0% and 22.7% with severe prolongation (
QT
c >500 ms) reported in 0% to 5.2% of the patients. Arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death were rare.

Conclusions

Our systematic review demonstrates that there is variability in the incidence of
QT
c prolongation of various cancer drugs; however, the clinical consequence, as defined by arrhythmias or sudden cardiac death, remains rare.
Visual Aids for Patient, Family, and Physician Decision Making About Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Tokunboh Ivie , Vales Montero Marta , Zopelaro Almeida Matheus Fellipe , Sharma Latisha , Starkman Sidney , Szeder Viktor , Jahan Reza , Liebeskind David , Gonzalez Nestor , Demchuk Andrew , Froehler Michael T. , Goyal Mayank , Lansberg Maarten G. , Lutsep Helmi , Schwamm Lee , Saver Jeffrey L. 
Published: December 2017

Background and Purpose—
Rapid decision making optimizes outcomes from endovascular thrombectomy for acute cerebral ischemia. Visual displays facilitate swift review of potential outcomes and can accelerate decision processes.

Methods—
From patient-level, pooled randomized trial data, 100 person-icon arrays (Kuiper–Marshall personographs) were generated showing beneficial and adverse effects of endovascular thrombectomy for patients with acute cerebral ischemia and large vessel occlusion using (1) automated (algorithmic) and (2) expert-guided joint outcome table specification.

Results—
For the full 7-category modified Rankin Scale, thrombectomy added to IV tPA (intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator) alone had number needed to treat to benefit 2.9 (95% confidence interval, 2.6–3.3) and number needed to harm 68.9 (95% confidence interval, 40–250); thrombectomy for patients ineligible for IV tPA had number needed to treat to benefit 2.3 (95% confidence interval, 2.1–2.5) and number needed to harm 100 (95% confidence interval, 62.5–250). Visual displays of treatment effects on 100 patients showed: with thrombectomy added to IV tPA alone, 34 patients have better disability outcome, including 14 more normal or near normal (modified Rankin Scale, 0–1); with thrombectomy for patients ineligible for IV tPA, 44 patients have a better disability outcome, including 16 more normal or nearly normal. Displays also showed that harm (increased modified Rankin Scale final disability) occurred in 1 of 100 patients in both populations, mediated by increased new territory infarcts. The person-icon figures integrated these outcomes, and early side-effects, in a single display.

Conclusions—
Visual decision aids are now available to rapidly educate healthcare providers, patients, and families about benefits and risks of endovascular thrombectomy, both when added to IV tPA in tPA-eligible patients and as the sole reperfusion treatment in tPA-ineligible patients.
Evaluating AMIP Skill in Simulating Interannual Variability over the Indo–Western Pacific
Authors: Zhou Zhen-Qiang , Xie Shang-Ping , Zhang Guang J. , Zhou Wenyu 
Published: December 2017

AbstractLocal correlation between sea surface temperature (SST) and rainfall is weak or even negative in summer over the Indo–western Pacific warm pool, a fact often taken as indicative of weak ocean feedback on the atmosphere. An Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP) simulation forced by monthly varying SSTs derived from a parallel coupled general circulation model (CGCM) run is used to evaluate AMIP skills in simulating interannual variability of rainfall. Local correlation of rainfall variability between AMIP and CGCM simulations is used as a direct metric of AMIP skill. This “perfect model” approach sidesteps the issue of model biases that complicates the traditional skill metric based on the correlation between AMIP and observations. Despite weak local SST–rainfall correlation, the AMIP–CGCM rainfall correlation exceeds a 95% significance level over most of the Indo–western Pacific warm pool, indicating the importance of remote (e.g., El Niño in the equatorial Pacific) rather than local SST forcing. Indeed, the AMIP successfully reproduces large-scale modes of rainfall variability over the Indo–western Pacific warm pool. Compared to the northwest Pacific east of the Philippines, the AMIP–CGCM rainfall correlation is low from the Bay of Bengal through the South China Sea, limited by internal variability of the atmosphere that is damped in CGCM by negative feedback from the ocean. Implications for evaluating AMIP skill in simulating observations are discussed.
Estimation of Actual Evapotranspiration by the Complementary Theory-Based Advection–Aridity Model in the Tarim River Basin, China
Authors: Jian Dongnan , Li Xiucang , Sun Hemin , Tao Hui , Jiang Tong , Su Buda , Hartmann Heike 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIn this study, the complementary relationship between actual evapotranspiration (ETa) and potential evapotranspiration (ETp) was verified in the Tarim River basin (TRB) in northwest China. The advection–aridity (AA) model that is based on the complementary relationship (CR) was used to calculate ETa. Spatial and temporal trends in the estimated annual ETa and the factors that influenced ETa were investigated. The multiyear average ETa in the TRB for the period from 1961 to 2014 was 178.5 mm. There was an overall significant increasing trend (at a rate of 10.6 mm decade−1) in ETa from 1961 to 2014; ETa increased at a rate of 22.9 mm decade−1 from 1961 to 1996 and decreased at a rate of 33.9 mm decade−1 from 1996 to 2014. Seasonally, ETa was strongest in summer, followed by spring and autumn. The spatial distributions of the annual and seasonal ETa were mostly consistent, with higher ETa values in the northeast, northwest, and southwest of the TRB, and lower ETa values in the mostly desert lands in the central and southeastern areas. While the energy budget (indicated by net radiation Rn) had little influence on ETa over time, the advection budget (indicated by the drying power of the air Ea) played an important role, explainable by Bouchet’s complementary relationship. In the Aksu River basin (ARB), ETa has increased because of an increase in the surface water supply (SWS). The change in ETa between 1996 and 1998 may have been caused by changes in the SWS and the advection budget during the same time period.
Quantitative MRI of Human Cartilage In Vivo: Relationships with Arthroscopic Indentation Stiffness and Defect Severity
Authors: Svärd Tuomas , Lakovaara Martti , Pakarinen Harri , Haapea Marianne , Kiviranta Ilkka , Lammentausta Eveliina , Jurvelin Jukka , Tervonen Osmo , Ojala Risto , Nieminen Miika 
Published: December 2017

Objective To investigate the association of cartilage defect severity, as determined by the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) grading with indentation stiffness and T2 relaxation time of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a biomarker for the integrity of articular cartilage. Design Twenty-one patients scheduled for arthroscopic were included in the study. Prior to arthroscopy, subjects underwent quantitative MRI of articular cartilage, namely T2 relaxation time mapping at 1.5 T. Within 2 months, subjects underwent arthroscopy, which also included ICRS grading and measurement of arthroscopic indentation stiffness. Arthroscopic evaluations and T2 mapping at anterior, central, and posterior medial and lateral femoral condyles were correlated using a colocalization scheme. Differences in Young’s modulus, as derived by indentation tests, and T2 times between ICRS grades were analyzed using Mann-Whitney’s U or Kruskal-Wallis H tests. The correlation between modulus and T2 times was analyzed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients. Results Modulus and T2 showed significant topographical variation. In the anterior region of interest (ROI) on the medial condyle the modulus showed a negative association with ICRS grade ( P = 0.040) and the T2 times were longer in ICRS grade 2 compared with grades 0 and 1 ( P = 0.047). Similar, but nonsignificant associations were found in the central ROI on the medial condyle. No significant correlations were observed between the indentation modulus and T2 times. Conclusions Cartilage degeneration is identified both with mechanical indentation and T2 mapping in MRI. However, in this study, indentation stiffness and T2 relaxation time in vivo, were not associated.
Collective thinking approach for improving leak detection systems
Authors: El-Zahab Samer , Asaad Ahmed , Mohammed Abdelkader Eslam , Zayed Tarek 
Published: December 2017

AbstractWater mains, especially old pipelines, are consistently threatened by the formation of leaks. Leaks inherit increased direct and indirect costs and impacts on various levels such as the economic field and the environmental level. Recently, financially capable municipalities are testing acoustic early detection systems that utilize wireless noise loggers. Noise loggers would be distributed throughout the water network to detect any anomalies in the network. Loggers provide early detection via recording and analyzing acoustic signals within the network. The city of Montreal adopted one of the leak detection projects in this domain and had reported that the main issue that hinders the installed system is false alarms. False alarms consume municipality resources and funds inefficiently. Therefore, this paper aims to present a novel approach to utilize more than one data analysis and classification technique to ameliorate the leak identification process. In this research, acoustic leak signals were analyzed using Fourier Transform, and the multiple frequency bandwidths were determined. Three models were developed to identify the state of the leak using Naïve Bayes (NB), Deep Learning (DL), and Decision Tree (DT) Algorithms. Each of the developed models has an accuracy ranging between 84% to 89%. An aggregator approach was developed to cultivate the collective approaches developed into one single answer. Through aggregation, the accuracy of leak detection improved from 89% at its best to 100%. The design, implementation approach and results are displayed in this paper. Using this method helps municipalities minimize and alleviate the costs of uncertain leak verifications and efficiently allocate their resources.
Once-a-Week Versus Once-Every-3-Weeks Cisplatin Chemoradiation for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer: A Phase III Randomized Noninferiority Trial
Authors: Noronha Vanita , Joshi Amit , Patil Vijay Maruti , Agarwal Jaiprakash , Ghosh-Laskar Sarbani , Budrukkar Ashwini , Murthy Vedang , Gupta Tejpal , D’Cruz Anil K. , Banavali Shripad , Pai Prathamesh S. , Chaturvedi Pankaj , Chaukar Devendra , Pande Nikhil , Chandrasekharan Arun , Talreja Vikas , Vallathol Dilip Harindran , Mathrudev Vijayalakshmi , Manjrekar Aparna , Maske Kamesh , Bhelekar Arati Sanjay , Nawale Kavita , Kannan Sadhana , Gota Vikram , Bhattacharjee Atanu , Kane Shubhada , Juvekar Shashikant L. , Prabhash Kumar 
Published: December 2017

PurposeChemoradiation with cisplatin 100 mg/m2given once every 3 weeks is the standard of care in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer (LAHNSCC). Increasingly, low-dose once-a-week cisplatin is substituted because of perceived lower toxicity and convenience. However, there is no level 1 evidence of comparable efficacy to cisplatin once every 3 weeks.Patients and MethodsIn this phase III randomized trial, we assessed the noninferiority of cisplatin 30 mg/m2given once a week compared with cisplatin 100 mg/m2given once every 3 weeks, both administered concurrently with curative intent radiotherapy in patients with LAHNSCC. The primary end point was locoregional control (LRC); secondary end points included toxicity, compliance, response, progression-free survival, and overall survival.ResultsBetween 2013 and 2017, we randomly assigned 300 patients, 150 to each arm. Two hundred seventy-nine patients (93%) received chemoradiotherapy in the adjuvant setting. At a median follow-up of 22 months, the estimated cumulative 2-year LRC rate was 58.5% in the once-a-week arm and 73.1% in the once-every-3-weeks arm, leading to an absolute difference of 14.6% (95% CI, 5.7% to 23.5%); P = .014; hazard ratio (HR), 1.76 (95% CI, 1.11 to 2.79). Acute toxicities of grade 3 or higher occurred in 71.6% of patients in the once-a-week arm and in 84.6% of patients in the once-every-3-weeks arm ( P = .006). Estimated median progression-free survival in the once-a-week arm was 17.7 months (95% CI, 0.42 to 35.05 months) and in the once-every-3-weeks arm, 28.6 months (95% CI, 15.90 to 41.30 months); HR, 1.24 (95% CI, 0.89 to 1.73); P = .21. Estimated median overall survival in the once-a-week arm was 39.5 months and was not reached in the once-every-3-weeks arm (HR, 1.14 [95% CI, 0.79 to 1.65]; P = .48).ConclusionOnce-every-3-weeks cisplatin at 100 mg/m2resulted in superior LRC, albeit with more toxicity, than did once-a-week cisplatin at 30 mg/m2, and should remain the preferred chemoradiotherapy regimen for LAHNSCC in the adjuvant setting.
RNAi targeting Caenorhabditis elegans α-arrestins has little effect on lifespan
Authors: Park Sangsoon , Jung Yoonji , An Seon Woo A. , Son Heehwa G. , Hwang Wooseon , Lee Dongyeop , Artan Murat , Park Hae-Eun H. , Jeong Dae-Eun , Lee Yujin , Lee Seung-Jae V. 
Published: December 2017

Background: α-arrestins are a family of proteins that are implicated in multiple biological processes, including metabolism and receptor desensitization. Methods: Here, we sought to examine the roles of α-arrestins in the longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans through an RNA interference screen. Results: We found that feeding worms with bacteria expressing double-stranded RNA against each of 24 out of total 29 C. elegans α-arrestins had little effect on lifespan. Thus, individual C. elegans α-arrestins may have minor effects on longevity. Conclusions: This study will provide useful information for future research on the functional role of α-arrestins in aging and longevity.
Autonomy in Scaffolding as Learning in Teacher-Student Negotiation of Meaning in a University EFL Classroom
Authors: Danli Li 
Published: December 2017

AbstractBased upon sociocultural theory, this study investigates the dynamics of the teacher’s roles and learner autonomy in the process of scaffolding in teacher-student negotiation of meaning in an EFL classroom. The participants were 25 undergraduate students and a Chinese teacher of English at a university in China. The teacher-student dialogue was the central mechanism mediating the construction of negotiation of meaning and form in language learning. The analysis of classroom discourse and the teacher’s retrospection from an interview illustrated the teacher’s different roles in interaction, where scaffolding acted as a structured pedagogical tool. The study revealed that the learners were afforded assistance to progress from other-regulation to self-regulation, and consequently, the teacher exploited opportunities to enhance learner autonomy in negotiation of spaces for autonomy in classroom teaching. The study has probed into the significance of the teacher’s capacity of controlling scaffolding effectively and generated implications for teacher development and learner training.
Laws for Creating Trust in the Blockchain Age
Authors: Pouwelse Johan , de Kok André , Fleuren Joost , Hoogendoorn Peter , Vliegendhart Raynor , de Vos Martijn 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
Humanity’s notion of trust is shaped by new platforms operating in the emerging sharing economy, acting as intermediate matchmaker for ride sharing, housing facilities or freelance labour, effectively creating an environment where strangers trust each other. While millions of people worldwide rely on online sharing activities, such services are often facilitated by a few predatory companies, managing trust relations. This centralization of responsibility raises questions about ethical and political issues like regulatory compliance, data portability and monopolistic behaviour. Recently, blockchain technology has gathered a significant amount of support and adoption, due to its inherent decentralized and tamper-proof structure. We present a blockchain-powered blueprint for a shared and public programmable economy. The focus of our architecture is on four essential primitives: digital identities, blockchain-based trust, programmable money and marketplaces. Trust is established using only historical interactions between strangers to estimate trustworthiness. Every component of our proposed technology stack is designed according to the defining principles of the Internet itself: self-governance, autonomy and shared ownership. Real-world viability of each component is demonstrated with a functional prototype or running code. Our vision is that the highlighted technology stack devises trust, new acts, principles and rules beyond the possibilities in current economic, legal and political systems.
Francoprovençal in contact with Walser German
Authors: Dal Negro Silvia , Angster Marco 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis article focuses on Francoprovençal (FP) from the perspective of language contact, specifically the reciprocal effects between FP and two dialects of German (Alemannic) spoken in the Aosta region and belonging to the severely endangered Walser minority group located in Northwestern Italy. On the basis of lexical evidence we describe a complex dynamics of language contact among communities embedded in one another. We found bidirectional exchanges between FP and one Walser variety, but much less so with the other. As a result, lexical distance revealed a pattern of contact, isolation and asymmetries that contrasts with geographical distance or more general relations of sociolinguistic dominance.
How does the environment shape spatial language? Evidence for sociotopography
Authors: Palmer Bill , Lum Jonathon , Schlossberg Jonathan , Gaby Alice 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis article investigates the extent to which the way individuals describe spatial relationships correlates with features of the local landscape. Drawing on empirical data from two unrelated languages, Dhivehi (Indo-Aryan) and Marshallese (Austronesian), across a range of topographic environments, we examine the linguistic resources available to speakers, and spatial referential strategy preferences across languages and environments. We find that spatial language shows sensitivity to features of the topography, but this is mediated by the way speakers interact with the landscape. This leads us to propose a Sociotopographic Model, modelling the complex interplay of language structure, local environment, cultural practices, and language use, at odds with competing claims about the primacy of language or of environment in shaping spatial cognition.
Lactic acid production from cane molasses
Authors: Vidra Aladár , Tóth András József , Németh Áron 
Published: December 2017

Abstract Molasses, a by-product of the sugar manufacturing process, generally comprises approximately 50% (w/w) of total sugars, but it is currently used primarily [1] as an animal feed and as a raw material in alcohol production. Currently, the sugar production is more than 160 million tones worldwide. Its byproduct molasses contain heavy metals which have growthinhibitory effect. The main sugar content in molasses is sucrose which often need to be hydrolyzed to glucose and fructose especially for utilization by Lactobacillus species. Lactobacillus species can convert sugar content to lactic acid with great efficiency, which is a valuable chemical. Lactic acid production from sugar molasses using batch fermentations with Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus sp. MKT878 were investigated in this study. Results showed, that both examined Lactobacillus species could grow on molasses despite the heavy metals inhibitory effects. The conversion of sugar content to lactic acid was successful with yield between 55-80 g/g.
Premalignant gastric lesions in patients included in National colorectal cancer screening
Authors: Tepes Bojan , Seruga Maja , Vujasinovic Miroslav , Urlep Dejan , Ljepovic Liljana , Brglez Jurecic Nataša , Forte Alenka , Anita Kek Ljubec , Skvarc Miha 
Published: December 2017

AbstractBackgroundGastric cancer is the fifth most common malignancy in the world with almost one million new cases annually. Helicobacter pylori infection causes 89% of all gastric cancers. Premalignant lesions (atrophy and intestinal metaplasia) develop after several decades of inflammation. Secondary prevention with gastroscopy is possible, but it is costly and has a low compliance rate. Alternative procedures like serology testing for pepsinogen I and II and pepsinogen I/II ratio are available to select patients for surveillance gastroscopies.Patients and methodsIn seven outpatient endoscopic units, 288 patients (154 men; 53.5%), average age 60.68 years, tested positive in National colorectal cancer screening programme SVIT, were included in the study. Gastropanel (BioHit, Finland) was used as a serologic biopsy method.ResultsWe found 24 patients (12 men, mean age 63.7 years) with pepsinogen (pepsinogen I/II < 3 and/or pepsinogen I < 30 μg/L). Premalignant changes were found on gastric biopsies in 21 patients (7.3% incidence). Operative Link on Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia Assessment (OLGIM) ≥ 1 was found in 20 patients; Operative Link for Gastritis Assessment (OLGA) ≥ 1 was found in 19 patients. Combined accuracy for preneoplastic lesions in Gastropanel positive patients was 87.5%. H. pylori seropositivity was found in 219 patients (76%). Only 24% of our population had normal results.ConclusionsGastropanel test has proven to be a reliable non-invasive test for advanced gastric preneoplastic lesions that can select patients for further gastroscopy. We found high H. pylori seropositivity in older age groups in Slovenia.