bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Computer-assisted initial diagnosis of rare diseases
Authors: Alves Rui , Piñol Marc , Vilaplana Jordi , Teixidó Ivan , Cruz Joaquim , Comas Jorge , Vilaprinyo Ester , Sorribas Albert , Solsona Francesc 
Published: July 2016

Introduction.Most documented rare diseases have genetic origin. Because of their low individual frequency, an initial diagnosis based on phenotypic symptoms is not always easy, as practitioners might never have been exposed to patients suffering from the relevant disease. It is thus important to develop tools that facilitate symptom-based initial diagnosis of rare diseases by clinicians. In this work we aimed at developing a computational approach to aid in that initial diagnosis. We also aimed at implementing this approach in a user friendly web prototype. We call this tool Rare Disease Discovery. Finally, we also aimed at testing the performance of the prototype.Methods.Rare Disease Discovery uses the publicly available ORPHANET data set of association between rare diseases and their symptoms to automatically predict the most likely rare diseases based on a patient’s symptoms. We apply the method to retrospectively diagnose a cohort of 187 rare disease patients with confirmed diagnosis. Subsequently we test the precision, sensitivity, and global performance of the system under different scenarios by running large scale Monte Carlo simulations. All settings account for situations where absent and/or unrelated symptoms are considered in the diagnosis.Results.We find that this expert system has high diagnostic precision (≥80%) and sensitivity (≥99%), and is robust to both absent and unrelated symptoms.Discussion.The Rare Disease Discovery prediction engine appears to provide a fast and robust method for initial assisted differential diagnosis of rare diseases. We coupled this engine with a user-friendly web interface and it can be freely accessed athttp://disease-discovery.udl.cat/. The code and most current database for the whole project can be downloaded fromhttps://github.com/Wrrzag/DiseaseDiscovery/tree/no_classifiers.
A Double Prodrug with Improved Membrane Permeability over the Parent Chelator HBED Provides Superior Cytoprotection against Hydrogen Peroxide
Authors: Thiele Nikki A. , Sloan Kenneth B. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThe clinical use of N,N′‐bis(2‐hydroxybenzyl)ethylenediamine‐N,N′‐diacetic acid (HBED) has been hindered by its lack of bioavailability. N,N′‐bis(2‐boronic pinacol ester benzyl)ethylenediamine‐N,N′‐diacetic acid methyl, ethyl, and isopropyl esters 7 a–c, respectively, and their dimesylate salts 8 a–c, are double prodrugs that mask the two phenolate and two carboxylate donors of HBED as boronic esters and carboxylate esters, respectively. Their activation by chemical hydrolysis and oxidation, their passive diffusivity, and their cytoprotective capabilities have been investigated here. 8 a–c hydrolyzed in minimum essential medium at 37 °C with half‐lives of 0.69, 0.81, and 2.28 h, respectively. The intermediate formed, 9 [N,N′‐bis(2‐boronic acid benzyl)ethylenediamine‐N,N′‐diacetic acid], then underwent oxidative deboronation by H2O2 to give HBED (k=1.82 m−1 min−1). Solubility measurements in mineral oil and in phosphate buffer indicated that 7 a had a better balance between lipid and aqueous solubilities than did HBED. 7 a was also able to passively diffuse across a lipid‐like silicone membrane (log flux=−0.36), whereas HBED‐HCl was not. 8 c provided better protection to retinal cells than did HBED against a lethal dose of H2O2 (84 % vs. 28 % protection, respectively, at 44 μm). These results suggest that the double prodrugs have better membrane permeability than does HBED, and therefore could be therapeutically useful for improving the delivery of HBED.
Application of Rigidity‐Controlled Supramolecular Affinity Materials for the Gravimetric Detection of Hazardous and Illicit Compounds
Authors: Pyka Isabella , Ryvlin Dimitrij , Waldvogel Siegfried R. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThe combination of an (−)‐isosteviol‐derived building block and 9,9’‐spirobifluorene or tetraphenylmethane generated highly potent new affinity materials for the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Comparison of their affinity behaviour with different core structures showed remarkable influence on selectivity and sensitivity due to structural rigidity and their pre‐organization. Their unique supramolecular properties were investigated in an affinity assay using high fundamental frequency quartz crystal microbalances.
Tandem Catalytic Depolymerization of Lignin by Water‐Tolerant Lewis Acids and Rhodium Complexes
Authors: Jastrzebski Robin , Constant Sandra , Lancefield Christopher S. , Westwood Nicholas J. , Weckhuysen Bert M. , Bruijnincx Pieter C. A. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractLignin is an attractive renewable feedstock for aromatic bulk and fine chemicals production, provided that suitable depolymerization procedures are developed. Here, we describe a tandem catalysis strategy for ether linkage cleavage within lignin, involving ether hydrolysis by water‐tolerant Lewis acids followed by aldehyde decarbonylation by a Rh complex. In situ decarbonylation of the reactive aldehydes limits loss of monomers by recondensation, a major issue in acid‐catalyzed lignin depolymerization. Rate of hydrolysis and decarbonylation were matched using lignin model compounds, allowing the method to be successfully applied to softwood, hardwood, and herbaceous dioxasolv lignins, as well as poplar sawdust, to give the anticipated decarbonylation products and, rather surprisingly, 4‐(1‐propenyl)phenols. Promisingly, product selectivity can be tuned by variation of the Lewis‐acid strength and lignin source.
Goals of care discussions among hospitalized long‐term care residents: Predictors and associated outcomes of care
Authors: Wong Hannah J. , Wang Jamie , Grinman Michelle , Wu Robert C. 
Published: July 2016

INTRODUCTIONThere are limited data on the occurrence, predictors, and impact of goals of care (GOC) discussions during hospitalization for seriously ill elderly patients, particularly for long‐term care (LTC) residents.METHODSThe study was a retrospective chart review of 200 randomly sampled LTC residents hospitalized via the emergency department and admitted to the general internal medicine service of 2 Canadian academic hospitals, from January 2012 through December 2012. We applied logistic regression models to identify factors associated with, and outcomes of, these discussions.RESULTSOverall, 9.4% (665 of 7084) of hospitalizations were patients from LTC. In the sample of 200 patients, 37.5% had a documented discussion. No baseline patient characteristic was associated with GOC discussions. Low Glasgow Coma Scale, high respiratory rate, and low oxygen saturation were associated with discussions. Patients with discussions had higher rates of orders for no resuscitation (80% vs 55%) and orders for comfort measures only (7% vs 0%). In adjusted analyses, patients with discussions had higher odds of in‐hospital death (52.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.2‐440.4) and 1‐year mortality (4.1, 95% CI: 1.7‐9.6). Nearly 75% of patients with a change in their GOC did not have this documented in the discharge summary.CONCLUSIONIn hospitalized LTC patients, GOC discussions occurred infrequently and appeared to be triggered by illness severity. Orders for advance directives, in‐hospital death, and 1‐year mortality were associated with discussions. Rates of GOC documentation in the discharge summary were poor. This study provides direction for developing education and practice standards to improve GOC discussion rates and their communication back to LTC. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2015;11:824–831. © 2015 Society of Hospital Medicine
Sliding velocity in profile‐corrected gears
Authors: Sachidananda H. K. , Raghunandana K. , Gonsalvis Joseph 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThe effects of sliding velocity in a spur gear for a tooth sum of 100 (altered by ±4%) with constant centre distance have been studied. The product of contact stress and sliding velocity (σ Vs) factor is calculated for varied profile shift. The effect of Hertzian compression, bending and shear deflection on sliding velocity at points along length of the path of contact has been computed. The scanning electron micrographs at pitch point C show that negative alteration in tooth‐sum gears is better compared with standard and positive alterations in tooth sum. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Grandparents of children with cancer: Quality of life, medication and hospitalizations
Authors: Wakefield C. E. , Fardell J. E. , Doolan E. L. , Drew D. , De Abreu Lourenco R. , Young A. L. , Cohn R. J. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractBackgroundGrandparents can play a crucial role of providing emotional and practical support for families facing childhood cancer. Yet, many have their own healthcare needs. This controlled study systematically assesses the impact of childhood cancer on grandparents’ quality of life (QOL). Our objective was to compare QOL in grandparents of children with and without cancer and to identify factors associated with grandparents’ QOL.ProcedureGrandparents (N = 222) completed two patient‐reported outcome (PRO) measures assessing QOL: EQ‐5D‐5L and WHOQOL‐BREF. Secondary endpoints included sleep, medications and hospitalizations. We used independent samples t‐tests and multivariate linear regression to assess between‐group differences and identify predictors.ResultsGrandparents of children with cancer (n = 89) reported significantly worse QOL than controls (n = 133) [mean WHOQOL‐BREF score: 75.6 (SD = 17.6) vs. 81.5 (15.6), P = 0.007; mean EQ‐5D‐5L index value: 0.777 (0.20) vs. 0.874 (0.14), P < 0.001)]. They also reported more problems with anxiety and depression (47.2 vs. 21.8%, P < 0.001) and pain (64.8 vs. 49.6%, P = 0.031). Grandparents of children with cancer reported taking longer to fall asleep [mean: 30.4 min (55.6) vs. 18.2 (20.2), P = 0.011] and taking more medications in the last 4 weeks [mean: 2.9 (SD = 3.8) vs. 1.8 (SD = 2.3), P = 0.012]. Hospitalizations were comparable across groups. Grandmothers, those living in urban locations, and retired/unemployed grandparents experienced reduced QOL.ConclusionsGrandparents are significantly affected by childhood cancer. The impact appears across many domains of life and results in meaningful QOL differences. Given that four or more individuals may be affected per child, and that grandparent well‐being can influence the whole family, interventions targeting at‐risk grandparents are needed.
Efficient oblivious transfer with adaptive queries in UC framework
Authors: Guleria Vandana , Dutta Ratna 
Published: July 2016

AbstractWe propose two efficient universally composable adaptivek‐out‐of‐N
protocols, secure in the presence of malicious adversary in static corruption model under the Decision Linear and q‐Strong Diffie–Hellman assumptions. Our second scheme additionally requires the hardness of Decision Bilinear Diffie‐Hellman problem. Non‐interactive Groth–Sahai proofs are employed for the verification of pairing product equations. More interestingly, our first scheme facilitates the receiver to verify the correctness of messages recovered. The proposed protocols exhibit significant computational and communication efficiency compared with existing similar schemes in the literature. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Toll‐like receptor 4 ablation rescues against paraquat‐triggered myocardial dysfunction: Role of ER stress and apoptosis
Authors: Lei Yonghong , Li Xue , Yuan Fang , Liu Lu , Zhang Juan , Yang Yanping , Zhao Jieqiong , Han Yan , Ren Jun , Fu Xiaobing 
Published: July 2016

ABSTRACTParaquat is a nitrogen herbicide imposing severe organ toxicity in human leading to acute lung injury and heart failure. The present study was designed to examine the impact of ablation of the innate proinflammatory mediator toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) in paraquat‐induced cardiac contractile dysfunction and the underlying mechanisms involved with a focus on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis. Adult male wild‐type (WT) and TLR4 knockout (TLR4−/−) mice were challenged with paraquat (45 mg/kg, i.p.) for 48 h prior to the assessment of myocardial and cardiomyocyte sarcomere function, ER stress, apoptosis and inflammation. Acute paraquat challenge exerted myocardial functional and geometric alterations including enlarged left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD), reduced fractional shortening, decreased sarcomere shortening, maximal velocities of sarcomere shortening and relengthening associated with unchanged LV posterior wall thickness, septal thickness, LV end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), heart rate, sarcomere length, time‐to‐peak shortening and time‐to‐90% relengthening. Although TLR4 ablation did not affect mechanical properties in the heart, it significantly attenuated or ablated paraquat‐induced cardiac contractile anomalies. Moreover, paraquat imposed overt ER stress, apoptosis and inflammation as evidenced by upregulation of Bip, CHOP, Caspase‐3, −9, Bax, Bad, and IL‐1β, phosphorylation of PERK, eIF2α and IΚB, as well as activation of the stress molecules ERK and p38, with unchanged Caspase‐8, Bcl2, TNF‐α, p53, HMGB1, MyD88 and phosphorylation of Akt, GSK3β and JNK, the effects of which were attenuated or negated by TLR4 knockout. Taken together, our results suggested that TLR4 ablation alleviated paraquat‐induced myocardial contractile dysfunction possibly through attenuation of ER stress, apoptosis and inflammation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 656–668, 2017.
An Environmental Scan of Academic Emergency Medicine at the 17 Canadian Medical Schools: Why Does this Matter to Emergency Physicians?
Authors: Stiell Ian G. , Artz Jennifer D. , Lang Eddy S. , Sherbino Jonathan , Morrison Laurie J. , Christenson James , Perry Jeffrey J. , Topping Claude , Woods Robert , Green Robert S. , Lim Rodrick , Magee Kirk , Foote John , Meckler Garth , Mensour Mark , Field Simon , Chung Brian , Kuuskne Martin , Ducharme James , Klein Vera , McEwen Jill 
Published: July 2016

AbstractObjectiveWe sought to conduct a major objective of the CAEP Academic Section, an environmental scan of the academic emergency medicine programs across the 17 Canadian medical schools.MethodsWe developed an 84-question questionnaire, which was distributed to academic heads. The responses were validated by phone by the lead author to ensure that the questions were answered completely and consistently. Details of pediatric emergency medicine units were excluded from the scan.ResultsAt eight of 17 universities, emergency medicine has full departmental status and at two it has no official academic status. Canadian academic emergency medicine is practiced at 46 major teaching hospitals and 13 specialized pediatric hospitals. Another 69 Canadian hospital EDs regularly take clinical clerks and emergency medicine residents. There are 31 full professors of emergency medicine in Canada. Teaching programs are strong with clerkships offered at 16/17 universities, CCFP(EM) programs at 17/17, and RCPSC residency programs at 14/17. Fourteen sites have at least one physician with a Master’s degree in education. There are 55 clinical researchers with salary support at 13 universities. Sixteen sites have published peer-reviewed papers in the past five years, ranging from four to 235 per site. Annual budgets range from $200,000 to $5,900,000.ConclusionThis comprehensive review of academic activities in emergency medicine across Canada identifies areas of strengths as well as opportunities for improvement. CAEP and the Academic Section hope we can ultimately improve ED patient care by sharing best academic practices and becoming better teachers, educators, and researchers.
THE FISHERTON MONSTER: SCIENCE, PROVIDENCE, AND POLITICS IN EARLY RESTORATION ENGLAND
Authors: LYON HARRIET 
Published: July 2016

ABSTRACTThis article reconsiders the significance of an episode of monstrous birth in Fisherton Anger, Wiltshire, in 1664. Tracing the influence of natural philosophical, spiritual, and providential impulses in extant accounts of the Fisherton birth, it suggests that in order wholly to comprehend this material it is necessary to move beyond debates about the ‘rise of science’. It therefore explores the contemporary claims made about the Fisherton monster against the backdrop of the aftermath of the Civil Wars and Interregnum, suggesting that the rampant politicization of monstrosity after the outbreak of war in 1642 provides the key to understanding the emphasis on different kinds of natural, spiritual, and moral truth in accounts of physiological abnormality after 1660. A case-study of early Restoration efforts to negotiate the instability of past events, this article further argues that the impulse to forget which underpinned the Indemnity and Oblivion Act (1660) found different expression elsewhere in the form of censorship and beyond the political sphere in the field of natural philosophy. Considered in light of this early Restoration culture of amnesia, the Fisherton monster embodies a series of attempts to forget the passions of a turbulent political past.
On the Conditions under which Discontinuous Events may be employed as a Measure of Continuous Processes, with Especial Reference to the Killing of Bacteria by Disinfectants
Authors: Robertson T. Brailsford 
Published: July 2016

It is shown that provided the total number of individuals exposed to a constant environment which is inducing change within them be constant, and the number of units of change which must take place within any given individual in order to cause a given event be also constant, then the number of these events is a quantitative measure of the extent of the change in all of the individuals taken together.From this it follows that the results of Madsen and Nyman and of Chick may legitimately be regarded as proving that the process which underlies disinfection obeys the time-relations and other characteristics of a mono-molecular chemical reaction.
XXV.—On the Disruptive Discharge of Electricity
Authors: Macfarlane Alexander , Playfair P. M. 
Published: July 2016

During the months of May and June of this session we have endeavoured to investigate certain questions suggested by our experience of the discharge of electricity through the gases and through oil of turpentine, for which purpose Dr Macfarlane had received a grant from the Royal Society of London.When paraffin oil (the kind employed for illuminating purposes) was put into a glass vessel, in which were two brass plates arranged in the form of a condenser, and when the plates were charged by means of the Holtz machine, it exhibited the same phenomena as oil of turpentine. Gas bubbles were produced; they did not appear until after the passage of the spark. Once produced, they facilitated the passage of the spark through bringing the electrified surfaces virtually nearer to one another. Hence, when taking observations of the difference of potential required to pass a spark through layers of different thickness of the oil, it was always necessary to remove the bubbles generated by the passage of one spark before electrifying again. This was effected by bringing the discs into contact.
Critical Factors for a Successful Astronomical Research Program in a Developing Country
Authors: Hearnshaw John B. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractI discuss the critical conditions for undertaking a successful research program in a developing country. There are many important factors, all or most of which have to be satisfied: funding, library holdings, computing access, Internet access (e-mail, WWW, ftp, telnet), collaboration with astronomers in developed countries, provision of proper offices for staff, supply of graduate students, access to travel for conferences, ability to publish in international journals, critical mass of researchers, access to a telescope (for observational astronomers), support from and interaction with national electronics, optics and precision engineering industries, a scientific culture backed by a national scientific academy, and lack of inter-institutional rivalry. I make a list of a total of 15 key factors and rank them in order of importance, and discuss the use of an astronomical research index (ARI) suitable for measuring the research potential of a given country or institution.I also discuss whether astronomers in developing countries in principle fare better in a university or in the environment of a government national observatory or research institution, and topics such as the effect of the cost of page charges and journal subscriptions on developing countries. Finally I present some statistics on astronomy in developing countries and relate the numbers of astronomers to the size of the economy and population in each country.
The Vatican Observatory Summer Schools in Observational Astronomy and Astrophysics
Authors: Corbally Christopher J. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractTwo seemingly incongruous components have come together about every two years: the serene terraces of the Pope’s summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, and the noisy exuberance of 25 beginning-level graduate students. Add in a small faculty of first-rate professors and a resourceful local support team, and one has the ingredients for the month-long Vatican Observatory Summer Schools. The eighth School takes place in the summer of 2001, and its goals are the same as when the series started in 1986: to encourage and motivate a mix of young people from industrialized and developing countries who are at critical moments of their research careers, and to make a small, but significant contribution to the progress of developing countries by exposing some of their most talented young citizens to people involved in high quality research in astrophysics. This account outlines the nature of the Schools, their follow-up, and something of how the spirit of sharing of personal and institutional resources is achieved.
SALT/HET Cooperation in Education and Public Outreach
Authors: Hemenway Mary Kay , Preston Sandra 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThe “Science with SALT” meeting in March 1998 opened avenues of cooperation between SAAO and the University of Texas at Austin in education and public outreach. This paper will review past interactions and future plans. SAAO personnel have visited the HET and McDonald Observatory and have taken part in planning meetings for the Texas Astronomy Education Center museum area and educational programming. Discussions concerning the extension of the daily radio show StarDate (English), Universo (Spanish) and Sternzeit (German) versions to a southern hemisphere version are underway. In addition, we are cooperatively planning a workshop to discuss an international collaborative for educational outreach for state-of-the-art telescopes for which a regional collaborative in southwestern U.S. (SCOPE) serves as a model. The towns of Sutherland and Fort Davis are discussing forming a “twin-town” relationship. Projects and plans that link cutting-edge astronomical research to classrooms and the public will be reviewed.