bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Revisiting the Appendiceal Diameter via Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis
Authors: Chicaiza Henry P. , Malia Laurie , Mulvey Christine H. , Smith Sharon R. 
Published: October 2017

Objectives
This study aims to investigate the optimal outer appendiceal diameter via ultrasound for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Methods
A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients (ages, 2–18 years) presenting to an urban pediatric emergency department between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010 with suspected acute appendicitis. Children were considered as having “suspected acute appendicitis” if they (1) presented with acute abdominal pain and had either a surgical consult or an abdominal ultrasound, or (2) presented or transferred with the stated suspicion of acute appendicitis. Pathology reports were used to confirm the diagnosis of appendicitis. The appendiceal diameters were determined by board-certified pediatric radiologists.

Results
A total of 320 patient charts were reviewed (females, 57%; mean age, 10.9; SD, 3.9). Seventy-two percent (N = 230) of the patients screened positive for acute appendicitis via ultrasound, 69% (N = 222) had confirmed acute appendicitis, 75% (N = 239) of the ultrasound reports included an outer appendiceal diameter. Overall, ultrasound was found to be highly sensitive (91%) and moderately specific (74%). With an outer appendiceal diameter of 6 mm as a cutoff, ultrasound had an excellent sensitivity (100%) but poor specificity (43%). With an outer diameter of 7 mm as a cutoff, sensitivity decreased to 94% but specificity increased to 71%. With increasing cutoff size, the sensitivity decreased and specificity increased.

Conclusions
Our data suggest that the optimal outer appendiceal diameter for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis should be 7 mm instead of the currently used 6 mm.
The Gut and Its Microbiome as Related to Central Nervous System Functioning and Psychological Well-being: Introduction to the Special Issue of Psychosomatic Medicine
Authors: Mayer Emeran A. , Hsiao Elaine Y. 
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACT
Accumulating evidence indicates bidirectional associations between the brain and the gut microbiome with both top-down and bottom-up processes. This article describes new developments in brain-gut interactions as an introduction to a special issue of Psychosomatic Medicine, based on a joint symposium of the American Psychosomatic Society and the American Gastroenterological Association. Literature review articles indicate that several psychiatric disorders are associated with altered gut microbiota, whereas evidence linking functional gastrointestinal disorders and dysbiosis has not been firmly established. The association between dysbiosis with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and Type 2 diabetes mellitus is still inconclusive, but evidence suggests that bariatric surgery may favorably alter the gut microbial community structure. Consistent with the literature linking psychiatric disorders with dysbiosis is that life adversity during childhood and certain temperaments that develop early in life are associated with altered gut microbiota, particularly the Prevotella species. Some studies reported in this issue support the hypothesis that brain-gut interactions are adversely influenced by reduced functional activation of the hippocampus and autonomic nervous system dysregulation. The evidence for the effects of probiotics in the treatment of Clostridium difficile colitis is relatively well established, but effects on mental health and psychophysiological stress reactivity are either inconclusive or still in progress. To conceptualize brain-gut interactions, a holistic, systems-based perspective on health and disease is needed, integrating gut microbial with environmental ecology. More translational research is needed to examine the mental and physical health effects of prebiotics and probiotics, in well-phenotyped human populations with sufficiently large sample sizes.
Antiviral treatment of severe non-influenza respiratory virus infection
Authors: Brendish Nathan J. , Clark Tristan W. 
Published: October 2017

Purpose of review
Non-influenza respiratory virus infections are a frequent cause of severe acute respiratory infections, especially in infants, the elderly, and the immunocompromised. We review here the current treatment options for non-influenza respiratory viruses and promising candidate antiviral agents currently in development.

Recent findings
Small molecule antiviral agents active against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), such as ALS-8176 and GS-5806, show considerable promise in challenge studies and are undergoing late-phase clinical trials in hospitalised adults and children. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) active against non-influenza respiratory viruses are broadly at a preclinical stage. Broad-spectrum antivirals, such as favipiravir and nitrazoxanide, have potential utility in treating illness caused by non-influenza respiratory viruses but further definitive clinical trials are needed.

Summary
Severe non-influenza respiratory virus infection is common and current treatment is largely supportive. Ribavirin is used in immunocompromised patients but its use is limited by toxicity and the evidence for its efficacy is weak. Effective antiviral treatment for RSV may shortly become available, pending the results of ongoing clinical trials. For other non-influenza viruses, effective treatments may become available in the medium term. Early detection of respiratory viruses with rapid molecular test platforms will be crucial in differentiating virus types and directing the prompt initiation of novel treatments when available.
Comparative Assessment of Anti-HLA Antibodies Using Two Commercially Available Luminex-Based Assays
Authors: Clerkin Kevin J. , See Sarah B. , Farr Maryjane A. , Restaino Susan W. , Serban Geo , Latif Farhana , Li Lingzhi , Colombo Paolo C. , Vlad George , Ray Bryan , Vasilescu Elena R. , Zorn Emmanuel 
Published: October 2017

Background
Allospecific anti-HLA antibodies (Abs) are associated with rejection of solid organ grafts. The 2 main kits to detect anti-HLA Ab in patient serum are commercialized by Immucor and One Lambda/ThermoFisher. We sought to compare the performance of both platforms.

Methods
Background-adjusted mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) values were used from both platforms to compare sera collected from 125 pretransplant and posttransplant heart and lung transplant recipients.

Results
Most HLA class I (94.5%) and HLA class II (89%) Abs with moderate to high MFI titer (≥4000) were detected by both assays. A modest correlation was observed between MFI values obtained from the 2 assays for both class I (r = 0.3, r
2 = 0.09, P < 0.0001) and class II Ab (r = 0.707, r
2 = 0.5, P < 0.0001). Both assays detected anti–class I and II Ab that the other did not; however, no specific HLA allele was detected preferentially by either of the 2 assays. For a limited number of discrepant sera, dilution resulted in comparable reactivity profiles between the 2 platforms.

Conclusions
Immucor and One Lambda/ThermoFisher assays have a similar, albeit nonidentical, ability to detect anti-HLA Ab. Although the correlation between the assays was present, significant variances exist, some of which can be explained by a dilution-sensitive “prozone” effect.
Baseline White Matter Hyperintensities and Hippocampal Volume are Associated With Conversion From Normal Cognition to Mild Cognitive Impairment in the Framingham Offspring Study
Authors: Bangen Katherine J. , Preis Sarah R. , Delano-Wood Lisa , Wolf Philip A. , Libon David J. , Bondi Mark W. , Au Rhoda , DeCarli Charles , Brickman Adam M. 
Published: October 2017

Introduction:We examined associations between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers of cerebrovascular disease and neurodegeneration with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) diagnosis at baseline and conversion from normal cognition to MCI at follow-up.Methods:Framingham Offspring participants underwent brain MRI and neuropsychological assessment at baseline (n=1049) and follow-up (n=561). Participants were classified at baseline and at follow-up as cognitively normal or MCI using sensitive neuropsychological criteria. White matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume, covert brain infarcts, hippocampal volume, and total cerebral brain volume were quantified.Results:Baseline measures of WMH and hippocampal volume were associated with MCI status cross-sectionally and also with conversion from normal cognition to MCI at 6.5-year follow-up. Annualized change rates in total cerebral brain volume and hippocampal volume were associated with conversion from normal cognition to MCI to follow-up.Discussion:Baseline WMH and hippocampal volume are markers that are both associated with conversion from normal cognition to MCI, highlighting the role of both vascular lesions and neurodegeneration in MCI.
Real-World Safety and Patient Profile of Fingolimod in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Prospective Analysis in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Authors: Rojas Juan Ignacio , Patrucco Liliana , Miguez Jimena , Cristiano Edgardo 
Published: October 2017

Objective
The aim was to evaluate fingolimod safety and patient profiles in a real-world setting in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Methods
Relapsing-remitting patients with multiple sclerosis who had been prescribed fingolimod and at least 18 months or more of follow-up were included. Demographic, clinical, and safety issues were described during first dose and follow-up.

Results
A total of 145 patients were included, 68% female; mean age, 30 ± 10.5 years; mean disease duration, 6.5 ± 3.1 years; mean fingolimod use, 25 ± 13 months. Eleven patients (7.6%) discontinued fingolimod (7 owing to disease activity/4 owing to desire of pregnancy and personal decisions). Forty-two percent of patients experienced adverse events: headache, fatigue, liver enzyme elevation, and lymphopenia were the most commonly found. No serious cardiac event was reported during the first dose.

Conclusions
The safety and patient profile of fingolimod in a new real-world setting were consistent with information provided from phase III clinical trials.
Subdural Instillation of a Thrombolytic Agent for Treatment of Recurrent Subdural Hematoma
Authors: Frenkel Mark B. , Sarwal Aarti , Wren Mary Petrulis , Newey Christopher R. , Couture Daniel E. 
Published: October 2017

Objective
This study aims to report the case of a patient with recurrent subdural hemorrhage (SDH) who was administered tissue plasminogen activator through a subdural drain to enhance drainage and prevent recurrence.

Methods
An 85-year-old man was treated for subacute over chronic SDH that kept on reaccumulating despite serial twist drill drainage, burr hole drainage, and craniotomy. No coagulopathy was identified with adequate blood pressure control.

Results
Treatment with tissue plasminogen activator resulted in successful drainage of the SDH, and the patient had no further recurrence at 9-month follow-up.
Early Onset Schizophrenia Associated With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Clinical Features and Correlates
Authors: Baytunca Burak , Kalyoncu Tuğba , Ozel Ismail , Erermiş Serpil , Kayahan Bülent , Öngur Dost 
Published: October 2017

Objectives
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is notably a comorbid disorder in patients with schizophrenia. This study aimed to evaluate clinical features and correlates of early onset patients with schizophrenia with OCD.

Methods
In the present study, we included 10 patients with both schizophrenia and OCD and 19 patients with schizophrenia without OCD. The mean antipsychotic doses the patients needed for treatment are standardized as chlorpromazine equivalent dose.

Results
The mean antipsychotic doses at first episode were 491 ± 376 mg/d in schizophrenia comorbid OCD group and 290 ± 209 mg/d in the schizophrenia without OCD group (P = 0.018). This significant difference was also found for the mean doses at the assessment for the study (512.40 ± 336.22 mg/d in schizophrenia comorbid OCD and 296.05 ± 147.25 mg/d in patients with schizophrenia without OCD, P = 0.012). There was no statistical difference in the mean scores of Clinical Global Impression and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale between schizophrenia with and without OCD group, respectively. (Clinical Global Impression: 5 ± 0.66 vs 4.36 ± 0.83, P = 0.094; Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale: 67.60 ± 11.84 vs 69.84 ± 14.62, P = 0.573).

Conclusions
Adolescents with schizophrenia and OCD needed more antipsychotic doses for acute exacerbation and the maintenance of reduction of psychosis severity than adolescents with only schizophrenia. We could suggest that OCD comorbidity in schizophrenia is more treatment resistant, although the severity of the schizophrenia was similar between study groups. There was no correlation between OCD and schizophrenia symptoms either.
Validation of the 10-Item Orientation Questionnaire
Authors: Martin Donel M. , Wong Ada , Kumar Divya R. , Loo Colleen K. 
Published: October 2017

ObjectivesAssessment of post–electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) disorientation at a single time point after ECT treatment may prove an effective and clinically useful method for monitoring the severity of disorientation and predicting ECT-induced retrograde amnesia. In this study, we aimed to validate a novel instrument (10-Item Orientation Questionnaire) developed to assess the level of disorientation after ECT.MethodsTwenty-four depressed inpatients who were prescribed an acute course of ECT were administered the 10-Item Orientation Questionnaire at 30 minutes after ECT and had time to reorientation assessed at 3 time points after ECT (10, 30, and 60 minutes) at ECT treatments 1 to 3. The association between average performance of the 10-Item Orientation Questionnaire across the acute ECT course and retrograde amnesia at post-ECT was examined using the Autobiographical Memory Interview–Short Form.ResultsMean performance on the 10-Item Orientation Questionnaire across treatments 1 to 3 was moderately correlated with average time to reorientation (r= −0.52,P= 0.02, n = 20). Across the acute ECT course, poorer performance on the 10-Item Orientation Questionnaire was associated with greater retrograde amnesia at post-ECT (r= 0.53,P= 0.03, n = 16).ConclusionsThe 10-Item Orientation Questionnaire when administered at 30 minutes after ECT is sensitive for detecting patients with slow recovery of orientation after ECT. Use of this instrument therefore has potential for improving routine patient monitoring in clinical practice and identifying patients at increased risk of retrograde memory adverse effects following treatment.
Dynamics of quantum measurements employing two Curie–Weiss apparatuses
Authors: Perarnau-Llobet Martí , Nieuwenhuizen Theodorus Maria 
Published: October 2017

Two types of quantum measurements, measuring the spins of an entangled pair and attempting to measure a spin at either of two positions, are analysed dynamically by apparatuses of the Curie–Weiss type. The outcomes comply with the standard postulates.This article is part of the themed issue ‘Second quantum revolution: foundational questions’.
The Higgs field and the resolution of the Cosmological Constant Paradox in the Weyl-geometrical Universe
Authors: De Martini Francesco 
Published: October 2017

The nature of the scalar field responsible for the cosmological inflation is found to be rooted in the most fundamental concept of Weyl's differential geometry: the parallel displacement of vectors in curved space–time. Within this novel geometrical scenario, the standard electroweak theory of leptons based on theSU(2)L⊗U(1)Yas well as on the conformal groups of space–time Weyl's transformations is analysed within the framework of a general-relativistic, conformally covariant scalar-tensor theory that includes the electromagnetic and the Yang–Mills fields. A Higgs mechanism within a spontaneous symmetry breaking process is identified and this offers formal connections between some relevant properties of the elementary particles and the dark energy content of the Universe. An ‘effective cosmological potential’:Veffis expressed in terms of the dark energy potential:via the ‘mass reduction parameter’:, a general property of the Universe. The mass of the Higgs boson, which is considered a ‘free parameter’ by the standard electroweak theory, by our theory is found to be proportional to the masswhich accounts for the measured cosmological constant, i.e. the measured content of vacuum-energy in the Universe. The non-integrable application of Weyl's geometry leads to a Proca equation accounting for the dynamics of aϕρ-particle, a vector-meson proposed as an an optimum candidate for dark matter. On the basis of previous cosmic microwave background results our theory leads, in the condition of cosmological ‘critical density’, to the assessment of the average energy content of theϕρ-excitation. The peculiar mathematical structure ofVeffoffers a clue towards a very general resolution of a most intriguing puzzle of modern quantum field theory, the ‘Cosmological Constant Paradox’ (here referred to as the ‘Λ-Paradox’). Indeed, our ‘universal’ theory offers a resolution of theΛ-Paradox for all exponential inflationary potentials:VΛ(T,ϕ)∝e−nϕ, and for all linear superpositions of these potentials, wherenbelongs to the mathematical set of the ‘real numbers’. An explicit solution of theΛ-Paradox is reported forn=2. The resolution of theΛ-Paradox cannot be achieved in the context of Riemann's differential geometry.This article is part of the themed issue ‘Second quantum revolution: foundational questions’.
Quantum potentiality revisited
Authors: Jaeger Gregg 
Published: October 2017

Heisenberg offered an interpretation of the quantum state which made use of a quantitative version of an earlier notion,, of Aristotle by both referring to it using its Latin name,potentia, and identifying its qualitative aspect with. The relationship between this use and Aristotle's notion was not made by Heisenberg in full detail, beyond noting their common character: that of signifying the system's objective capacity to be found later to possess a property in actuality. For such actualization, Heisenberg requiredmeasurementto have taken place, an interaction with external systems that disrupts the otherwise independent, natural evolution of the quantum system. The notion of state actualization was later taken up by others, including Shimony, in the search for a law-like measurement process. Yet, the relation of quantum potentiality to Aristotle's original notion has been viewed as mainly terminological, even by those who used it thus. Here, I reconsider the relation of Heisenberg's notion to Aristotle's and show that it can be explicated in greater specificity than Heisenberg did. This is accomplished through the careful consideration of the role of potentia in physical causation and explanation, and done in order to provide a fuller understanding of this aspect of Heisenberg's approach to quantum mechanics. Most importantly, it is pointed out that Heisenberg's requirement of an external intervention during measurement that disrupts the otherwise independent, natural evolution of the quantum system is in accord with Aristotle's characterization of spontaneous causation. Thus, the need for a teleological understanding of the actualization of potentia, an often assumed requirement that has left this fundamental notion neglected, is seen to be spurious.This article is part of the themed issue ‘Second quantum revolution: foundational questions’.
Quantum generalized observables framework for psychological data: a case of preference reversals in US elections
Authors: Khrennikova Polina , Haven Emmanuel 
Published: October 2017

Politics is regarded as a vital area of public choice theory, and it is strongly relying on the assumptions of voters’ rationality and as such, stability of preferences. However, recent opinion polls and real election outcomes in the USA have shown that voters often engage in ‘ticket splitting’, by exhibiting contrasting party support in Congressional and Presidential elections (cf. Khrennikova 2014Phys. ScriptaT163, 014010 (doi:10.1088/0031-8949/2014/T163/014010); Khrennikova & Haven 2016Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A374, 20150106 (doi:10.1098/rsta.2015.0106); Smithet al.1999Am. J. Polit. Sci.43, 737–764 (doi:10.2307/2991833)). Such types of preference reversals cannot be mathematically captured via the formula of total probability, thus showing that voters’ decision making is at variance with the classical probabilistic information processing framework. In recent work, we have shown that quantum probability describes well the violation of Bayesian rationality in statistical data of voting in US elections, through the so-calledinterference effectsof probability amplitudes. This paper is proposing a novel generalized observables framework of voting behaviour, by using the statistical data collected and analysed in previous studies by Khrennikova (Khrennikova 2015Lect. Notes Comput. Sci.8951, 196–209) and Khrennikova & Haven (Khrennikova & Haven 2016Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A374, 20150106 (doi:10.1098/rsta.2015.0106)). This framework aims to overcome the main problems associated with the quantum probabilistic representation of psychological data, namely thenon-double stochasticityof transition probability matrices. We develop a simplified construction of generalized positive operator valued measures by formulating special non-orthonormal bases with respect to these operators.This article is part of the themed issue ‘Second quantum revolution: foundational questions’.
Can we close the Bohr–Einstein quantum debate?
Authors: Kupczynski Marian 
Published: October 2017

Recent experiments allow one to conclude that Bell-type inequalities are indeed violated; thus, it is important to understand what this means and how we can explain the existence of strong correlations between outcomes of distant measurements. Do we have to announce that Einstein was wrong, Nature is non-local and non-local correlations are produced due to quantum magic and emerge, somehow, from outside space–time? Fortunately, such conclusions are unfounded because, if supplementary parameters describing measuring instruments are correctly incorporated in a theoretical model, then Bell-type inequalities may not be proved. We construct a simple probabilistic model allowing these correlations to be explained in a locally causal way. In our model, measurement outcomes are neither predetermined nor produced in an irreducibly random way. We explain why, contrary to the general belief, the introduction of setting-dependent parameters does not restrict experimenters' freedom of choice. Since the violation of Bell-type inequalities does not allow the conclusion that Nature is non-local and that quantum theory is complete, the Bohr–Einstein quantum debate may not be closed. The continuation of this debate is important not only for a better understanding of Nature but also for various practical applications of quantum phenomena.This article is part of the themed issue ‘Second quantum revolution: foundational questions’.
Quantum mechanics: why complex Hilbert space?
Authors: Cassinelli G. , Lahti P. 
Published: October 2017

We outline a programme for an axiomatic reconstruction of quantum mechanics based on the statistical duality of states and effects that combines the use of a theorem of Solér with the idea of symmetry. We also discuss arguments favouring the choice of the complex field.
This article is part of the themed issue ‘Second quantum revolution: foundational questions’.