bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Safety and early effectiveness of robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy for large angiomyolipomas
Authors: Golan Shay , Johnson Scott C. , Maurice Matthew J. , Kaouk Jihad H. , Lai Weil R. , Lee Benjamin R. , Kheyfets Steven V. , Sundaram Chandru P. , Cahn David B. , Uzzo Robert G. , Shalhav Arieh L. 
Published: December 2016

ObjectiveTo evaluate a multicentre series of robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) performed for the treatment of large angiomyolipomas (AMLs).Patients and MethodsBetween 2005 and 2016, 40 patients with large or symptomatic AMLs underwent RAPN at five academic centres in the USA. Patient demographics, AML characteristics, operative and postoperative clinical outcomes were recorded and analysed. Surgical outcomes were compared between patients who underwent selective arterial embolisation (SAE) before RAPN and patients who did not undergo pre‐RAPN SAE.ResultsThe median (interquartile range [IQR]) tumour diameter was 7.2 (5–8.5) cm, and the median (IQR) nephrometry score was 9 (7–10). Six patients (15%) had a history of tuberous sclerosis and 11 (28%) had previously undergone SAE. The median (IQR) operative time and warm ischaemia time was 207 (180–231) and 22.5 (16–28) min, respectively. A non‐clamping technique was used in eight (20%) patients. The median (IQR) estimated blood loss was 200 (100–245) mL, and four patients (10%) received blood transfusion postoperatively. One intraoperative complication occurred (2.5%), and seven postoperative complications occurred in six patients (15%). During a median (IQR) follow‐up of 8 (1–15) months, none of the patients developed AML‐related symptoms. The median estimated glomerular filtration rate preservation rate was 95%. There were no differences in operative or perioperative outcomes between patients who underwent SAE before RAPN and those who did not.ConclusionsRobot‐assisted partial nephrectomy appears to be a safe primary or secondary (post‐SAE) treatment for large AMLs, with a favourable perioperative morbidity profile and excellent functional preservation. Longer follow‐up is required to fully evaluate therapeutic efficacy.
A brain in flame; do inflammasomes and pyroptosis influence stroke pathology?
Authors: Barrington Jack , Lemarchand Eloise , Allan Stuart M. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractStroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Inflammation plays a key role across the time course of stroke, from onset to the post‐injury reparative phase days to months later. Several regulatory molecules are implicated in inflammation, but the most established inflammatory mediator of acute brain injury is the cytokine interleukin‐1. Interleukin‐1 is regulated by large, macromolecular complexes called inflammasomes, which play a central role in cytokine release and cell death. In this review we highlight recent advances in inflammasome research and propose key roles for inflammasome components in the progression of stroke damage.
MR‐FLIP: a new method that combines a functional lumen imaging probe with anatomical information for spatial compliance assessment of the anal sphincter muscles
Authors: Brusa T. , Abler D. , Tutuian R. , Studer P. , Fattorini E. , Gingert C. , Heverhagen J. T. , Brügger L. E. , Büchler P. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractAimContinence results from a complex interplay between anal canal (AC) muscles and sensorimotor feedback mechanisms. The passive ability of the AC to withstand opening pressure – its compliance – has recently been shown to correlate with continence. A functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP) is used to assess AC compliance, although it provides no anatomical information. Therefore, assessment of the compliance specific anatomical structures has not been possible, and the anatomical position of critical functional zones remains unknown. In addition, the FLIP technique assumes a circular orifice cross‐section, which has not been shown for the AC. To address these shortcomings, a technique combining FLIP with a medical imaging modality is needed.MethodWe implemented a new research method (MR‐FLIP) that combines FLIP with MR imaging. Twenty healthy volunteers underwent MR‐FLIP and conventional FLIP assessment. MR‐FLIP was validated by comparison with FLIP results. Anatomical markers were identified, and the cross‐sectional shape of the orifice was investigated.ResultsMR‐FLIP provides compliance measurements identical to those obtained by conventional FLIP. Anatomical analysis revealed that the least compliant AC zone was located at the proximal end of the external anal sphincter (EAS). The cross‐sectional shape of the AC was found to deviate only slightly from circularity in healthy volunteers.ConclusionThe proposed method is equivalent to classical FLIP. It establishes for the first time direct mapping between local tissue compliance and anatomical structure, which is key to gaining novel insights into (in)continence. In addition, MR‐FLIP provides a tool for better understanding conventional FLIP measurements in the AC by quantifying its limitations and assumptions.
Planning Beyond the Next Trial in Adaptive Experiments: A Dynamic Programming Approach
Authors: Kim Woojae , Pitt Mark A. , Lu Zhong‐Lin , Myung Jay I. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractExperimentation is at the heart of scientific inquiry. In the behavioral and neural sciences, where only a limited number of observations can often be made, it is ideal to design an experiment that leads to the rapid accumulation of information about the phenomenon under study. Adaptive experimentation has the potential to accelerate scientific progress by maximizing inferential gain in such research settings. To date, most adaptive experiments have relied on myopic, one‐step‐ahead strategies in which the stimulus on each trial is selected to maximize inference on the next trial only. A lingering question in the field has been how much additional benefit would be gained by optimizing beyond the next trial. A range of technical challenges has prevented this important question from being addressed adequately. This study applies dynamic programming (DP), a technique applicable for such full‐horizon, “global” optimization, to model‐based perceptual threshold estimation, a domain that has been a major beneficiary of adaptive methods. The results provide insight into conditions that will benefit from optimizing beyond the next trial. Implications for the use of adaptive methods in cognitive science are discussed.
Second Language Experience Facilitates Statistical Learning of Novel Linguistic Materials
Authors: Potter Christine E. , Wang Tianlin , Saffran Jenny R. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractRecent research has begun to explore individual differences in statistical learning, and how those differences may be related to other cognitive abilities, particularly their effects on language learning. In this research, we explored a different type of relationship between language learning and statistical learning: the possibility that learning a new language may also influence statistical learning by changing the regularities to which learners are sensitive. We tested two groups of participants, Mandarin Learners and Naïve Controls, at two time points, 6 months apart. At each time point, participants performed two different statistical learning tasks: an artificial tonal language statistical learning task and a visual statistical learning task. Only the Mandarin‐learning group showed significant improvement on the linguistic task, whereas both groups improved equally on the visual task. These results support the view that there are multiple influences on statistical learning. Domain‐relevant experiences may affect the regularities that learners can discover when presented with novel stimuli.
Advances in pleuroscopy
Authors: Anevlavis Stavros , Froudarakis Marios E. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractObjectivesTo describe the technique of pleuroscopy, its clinical uses such as diagnosis of exudative pleural effusion, treatment of pleural infection, treatment of pneumothorax, and diagnosis and pleurodesis of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Also to describe the newer techniques developed such as minothoracoscopy, semirigid thoracoscopy, narrow band imaging pleuroscopy, infrared pleuroscopy, autofluorescence pleuroscopy.Data sourceWe searched the pubmed the last decade for publications with the key words pleuroscopy, medical thoracoscopy, pneumothorax and pleuroscopy, malignant pleural mesothelioma, minothoracoscopy, semirigid thoracoscopy, autofluorescence pleuroscopy.ConclusionMedical thoracoscopy is the method of choice for investigation of the undiagnosed exudative pleural effusions. Newer techniques, such as narrow band imaging thoracoscopy, infrared thoracoscopy, autofluorescence thoracoscopy are offering a promising future for medical thoracoscopy.
Calcification score evaluation in patients listed for renal transplantation
Authors: Kahn Judith , Ram Leona Marleen , Eberhard Katharina , Groselj‐Strele Andrea , Obermayer‐Pietsch Barbara , Müller Helmut 
Published: December 2016

AbstractBased on native CT scans of the pelvic region using a standardized calcification score, evaluation of iliac vascular calcification was performed between 2008 and 2012 prior to listing for renal transplantation in 205 patients with chronic kidney disease. Vascular calcification showed a decrease from proximal to distal. The difference between the degree of calcification in the common iliac artery and in the external iliac artery was significant (P<.001). Risk factors for total iliac vascular calcification were age, smoking, sex, underlying renal disease, and diabetes. Multivariate analysis revealed age to be the most relevant risk factor (P<.001). The duration of hemodialysis correlated significantly with total iliac vascular calcification. As the introduction of the standardized surgical evaluation protocol, no transplantation has had to be broken off and no early graft loss due to calcification has occurred. Thus, careful scoring of vascular calcification prior to transplantation may be a valuable tool to support surgical decisions and to improve patient safety and outcome in increasingly older transplant recipients.
Gender differences in long‐term survival post‐transplant: A single‐institution analysis in the lung allocation score era
Authors: Loor Gabriel , Brown Roland , Kelly Rosemary F. , Rudser Kyle D. , Shumway Sara J. , Cich Irena , Holley Christopher T. , Quinlan Colleen , Hertz Marshall I. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to clarify the significance of recipient gender status on lung transplant outcomes in a large single‐institution experience spanning three decades, we analyzed data from all lung transplants performed in our institution since 1986. Kaplan‐Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the effect of recipient characteristics on survival and BOS score ≥1‐free survival. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the association of gender with short‐term graft function. About 876 lung transplants were performed between 1986 and 2016. Kaplan‐Meier survival estimates at 5 years post‐transplant for females vs males in the LAS era were 71% vs 58%. In the LAS era, females showed greater unadjusted BOS≥1‐free survival than males (35% vs 25%, P=.02) over 5 years. Female gender was the only factor in the LAS era significantly associated with improved adjusted 5‐year survival [HR 0.56 (95% CI 0.33, 0.95) P=.03]. Conversely, in the pre‐LAS era female gender was not associated with improved survival. Female recipients showed significantly improved survival over 5 years compared to males in the LAS era. A prospective analysis of biologic and immunologic differences is warranted.
Prediction of nonalcoholic fatty liver in prospective liver donors
Authors: Choudhary Narendra S. , Saraf Neeraj , Saigal Sanjiv , Duseja Ajay , Gautam Dheeraj , Lipi Lipika , Rastogi Amit , Goja Sanjay , Bhangui Prashant , Ramchandra Sumana K. , Babu Yalakanti Raghavendra , Soin Arvinder S. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractBackgroundMetabolic risk factors should be important in addition to imaging for prediction of steatosis in prospective liver donors.Materials and methodsThe study group included all prospective liver donors who had a liver biopsy during workup. Risk factors of metabolic syndrome were analyzed, and body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 was used in place of waist circumference. Three BMI cutoffs (25, 28, and 30 kg/m2) and two CT‐measured liver attenuation index (LAI) cutoffs (<5 and ≤10) were used for steatosis assessment of ≥5%, ≥10%, and ≥20%.ResultsOf the 573 prospective donors (307 females), 282 (49.2%) donors had nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL). When donors with NAFL were compared with donors having normal histology, multivariate analysis showed BMI, ALT, triglycerides, and LAI as significant predictors of NAFL. BMI ≥25 kg/m2 and LAI <10 were better cutoffs. The presence of ≥2 metabolic risk factors had better sensitivity than CT‐LAI for the presence of NAFL and ≥20% steatosis (58% and 54% vs 47% and 22%, respectively, for CT‐LAI ≤10). The presence of LAI >10 and <2 metabolic risk factors predicted <10% steatosis with 96% specificity and 92% positive predictive value.ConclusionThe presence of ≥2 metabolic risk factors improves sensitivity of CT‐LAI for prediction of donor steatosis.
Cervical human papillomavirus infection in the early postoperative period after liver transplantation: Prevalence, risk factors, and concordance with anal infections
Authors: Grąt Karolina , Grąt Michał , Wronka Karolina M. , Pietrzak Bronisława , Suchońska Barbara , Walter de Walthoffen Szymon , Młynarczyk Grażyna , Krawczyk Marek , Wielgoś Mirosław 
Published: December 2016

AbstractSolid organ transplant recipients are at increased risk of developing several human papillomavirus (HPV)‐related malignancies, including cervical and anal cancers. The purpose of this prospective study was to assess the initial prevalence and risk factors for high‐risk HPV (HR‐HPV) cervical infections in liver transplant recipients, as well as their concordance with anal infections. A total of 50 female patients were enrolled in the Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery at the Medical University of Warsaw (center with >1600 liver transplantations). The initial prevalence of cervical HR‐HPV infection was 10.0% (5/50). The only significant risk factor for cervical HR‐HPV infection was ≥4 lifetime sexual partners (P=.037). Statistical tendencies toward higher prevalence of cervical HR‐HPV infections were found for patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV, P=.082) and with model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) score ≤8 (P=.064). Cervical cytology was abnormal in 10 patients, including three with HR‐HPV. Out of 12 patients with available data on anal HR‐HPV, one had concordant HPV 16 infection. In conclusion, the initial prevalence of high‐risk HPV infection is relatively low, except for patients with ≥4 previous sexual partners and potentially in those with HBV and/or low MELD score.
Outcomes in the highest panel reactive antibody recipients of deceased donor kidneys under the new kidney allocation system
Authors: Parajuli Sandesh , Redfield Robert R. , Astor Brad C. , Djamali Arjang , Kaufman Dixon B. , Mandelbrot Didier A. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractSince the institution of the new kidney allocation system in December 2014, kidney transplant candidates with the highest calculated panel reactive antibodies (cPRA) of 99‐100 have been transplanted at much higher rates. However, concerns have been raised that outcomes in these patients might be impaired due to higher immunological risk and longer cold ischemia times resulting from long‐distance sharing of kidneys. Here, we compare outcomes at the University of Wisconsin between study patients withcPRA99‐100 and all other recipients of deceased donor kidneys transplanted between 12/04/2014 and 12/31/2015. All patients had at least 6 months post‐transplant follow‐up. The mean follow‐up was 13.9±3 months incPRA≥99% and 12.3±3.5 months incPRA≤98%. There was a total of 152 transplants, 25 study patients, and 127 controls. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in delayed graft function, rejection, kidney function, graft and patient survival, or infections. We conclude that transplanting the most highly sensitized patients with kidneys shared outside their local donation service areas is associated with excellent short‐term outcomes that are comparable to controls.
Accounting for the UK Productivity Puzzle: A Decomposition and Predictions
Authors: Goodridge Peter , Haskel Jonathan , Wallis Gavin 
Published: December 2016

This paper revisits the UK productivity puzzle using new data on outputs and inputs and clarifying the role of output mismeasurement, input growth and industry effects. Our data indicate an implied labour productivity gap of 13 percentage points in 2011 relative to the productivity level on pre‐recession trends. We find that: (a) the labour productivity puzzle is a TFP puzzle, since it is not explained by the contributions of labour or capital services; (b) the reallocation of labour between industries deepens rather than explains the puzzle (i.e. there has been a reallocation of hours away from low‐productivity industries and toward high productivity industries); (c) capitalization of R&D does not explain the productivity puzzle; (d) assuming increased scrapping rates since the recession, a 25% (50%) increase in depreciation rates post‐2009 can potentially explain 15% (31%) of the productivity puzzle; (e) industry data show that 35% of the TFP puzzle can be explained by weak TFP growth in the oil & gas and finance sectors; and (f) cyclical effects via factor utilization could potentially explain 17% of the productivity puzzle. Continued weakness in finance would suggest a future lowering of TFP growth to around 0.8% p.a. from a baseline of 0.9% p.a.
Pyrosequencing of rpoB uncovers a significant biogeographical pattern of rhizobial species in soybean rhizosphere
Authors: Zhang Xing Xing , Guo Hui Juan , Jiao Jian , Zhang Pan , Xiong Hui Yang , Chen Wen Xin , Tian Chang Fu 
Published: December 2016

AbstractAimMost culture‐independent studies of bacterial biogeography have been at genus or higher taxonomic levels, although many important processes mediated by bacteria are at the strain or species level, such as the competitive nodulation of rhizobia on legumes. Here, at the intra‐species level, we characterized the structural variation in rhizobial populations in soybean rhizosphere under field conditions across 32 sampling sites in three eco‐regions.LocationNorth‐east (Heilongjiang), north (Hebei–Shandong) and south (Jiangxi) China.MethodsThe intra‐species diversity of rhizobia in soybean rhizospheres was investigated by rpoB pyrosequencing. Soybean nodule isolates were characterized using repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR, restriction fragment length polymorphism of 16S‐23S intergenic sequences and rpoB PCR sequencing. Patterns and processes of biogeography of identified rhizobia were studied.ResultsSignificant biogeographical patterns of rhizosphere rhizobia at the species level were found, and the abundant species in the rhizosphere were generally the dominant microsymbionts in soybean nodules. The distribution of rhizobial species in the rhizosphere across eco‐regions correlated with combined effects of spatial, vegetative, edaphic and climatic variables. Gene flow and genetic differentiation analyses revealed that there was no dispersal limitation among geographical populations of the same rhizobial species, and drift or subsequent diversification might be involved in shaping the biogeographical pattern in addition to environmental factors.Main conclusionsThese results constitute the first report of the existence of rhizobial biogeography in legume rhizospheres at the species level, contrasting with most studies, which focused on nodule isolates. The method developed in this study could be used to uncover, at high resolution, the diversity of local rhizobial populations in soils. This information is crucial for choosing suitable strains or species as inoculants for a specific legume host under local field conditions. Moreover, a similar strategy could be used to study other bacteria with important ecological functions.
Avian migration and the distribution of malaria parasites in New World passerine birds
Authors: Ricklefs Robert E. , Medeiros Matthew , Ellis Vincenzo A. , Svensson‐Coelho Maria , Blake John G. , Loiselle Bette A. , Soares Leticia , Fecchio Alan , Outlaw Diana , Marra Peter P. , Latta Steven C. , Valkiūnas Gediminas , Hellgren Olof , Bensch Staffan 
Published: December 2016

AbstractAimMigrating birds transport their parasites, often over long distances, but little is known about the transfer of these parasites to resident hosts in either the wintering or breeding ranges of the migratory host populations. We investigated the haemosporidian parasite faunas of migratory and resident birds to determine connections among distant parasite faunas, plausibly brought about by migratory host populations.LocationSamples were obtained, primarily during or shortly after the local breeding season, throughout the Americas, from the United States through the Caribbean Basin and into northern South America.MethodsInfections were identified by PCR and sequencing of parasite DNA in avian blood samples. The analyses were based on c. 4700 infections representing 79 parasite lineages of Plasmodium and Haemoproteus spp. Geographical connections of lineages between regions in the Americas were compared to those in the Euro‐African migration system, where migration distances are longer for many host species and the migrant and resident avifaunas in the wintering areas are phylogenetically more divergent.ResultsHaemosporidian lineages exhibited considerable variation in distribution in the Americas, and patterns of distribution differ markedly between the Americas and the Euro‐African migration system. In particular, few lineages were recovered from resident species in both temperate and tropical latitudes, particularly in the Euro‐African system, in which a large proportion of lineages were restricted to migrants. Parasite lineages in the Euro‐African system exhibited considerable phylogenetic conservatism in their distributions, that is, a tendency of related lineages to exhibit similar geographical distributions. In contrast, clades of parasites in the Americas displayed more geographical diversity, with four of 12 clades exhibiting all four of the distribution types representing the combinations of resident and migrant host species in both temperate and tropical latitudes.Main conclusionsLong‐distance migrants connect communities of avian haemosporidian parasites in breeding and wintering areas with disparate avifaunas and different vector communities. The degree of parasite lineage sharing between migrants and residents in breeding and wintering areas appears to reflect, to a large degree, the taxonomic similarity of migrants to the resident species in both areas.