bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Red and blue states: dichotomized maps mislead and reduce perceived voting influence
Authors: Furrer Rémy A. , Schloss Karen , Lupyan Gary , Niedenthal Paula M. , Wood Adrienne 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIn the United States the color red has come to represent the Republican party, and blue the Democratic party, in maps of voting patterns. Here we test the hypothesis that voting maps dichotomized into red and blue states leads people to overestimate political polarization compared to maps in which states are represented with continuous gradations of color. We also tested whether any polarizing effect is due to partisan semantic associations with red and blue, or if alternative hues produce similar effects. In Study 1, participants estimated the hypothetical voting patterns of eight swing states on maps with dichotomous or continuous red/blue or orange/green color schemes. A continuous gradient mitigated the polarizing effects of red/blue maps on voting predictions. We also found that a novel hue pair, green/orange, decreased perceived polarization. Whether this effect was due to the novelty of the hues or the fact that the hues were not explicitly labeled “Democrat” and “Republican” was unclear. In Study 2, we explicitly assigned green/orange hues to the two parties. Participants viewed electoral maps depicting results from the 2020 presidential election and estimated the voting margins for a subset of states. We replicated the finding that continuous red/blue gradient reduced perceived polarization, but the novel hues did not reduce perceived polarization. Participants also expected their hypothetical vote to matter more when viewing maps with continuous color gradations. We conclude that the dichotomization of electoral maps (not the particular hues) increases perceived voting polarization and reduces a voter’s expected influence on election outcomes.
Assessing structural integrity of the pyramidal tracts with diffusion spectrum imaging to predict postoperative motor function in pediatric epilepsy patients with hemispherectomy
Authors: Zhang Huaqiang , Wei Penghu , Lu Chao , Wang Zhenming , Fan Xiaotong , Shan Yongzhi , Zhao Guoguang 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Hemispherectomy is an effective treatment option for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy caused by hemispheric lesions. However, patients often have deterioration of their motor functions postoperatively. Diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) was reliable in presenting the natural shape of the white matter fibers. At the same time, the natural sprawl pyramid tract (PT) might be more intuitive for predicting postoperative motor functions. Therefore, we assessed the motor functions by the natural shape revealed by DSI tractography.

Methods
Ten children with drug-resistant epilepsy who were candidates for hemispherectomy performed DSI PTs tractography and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for motor mapping. The motor function was evaluated with muscle strength and hand grasping capability. Pyramidal tract (PT) structural integrity and TMS mapping results were compared between patients who remained stable and those with deteriorated motor functions. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves with PTs asymmetric ratio were analyzed to evaluate DSI tractography diagnostic value.

Results
All patients underwent DSI acquisition, while four patients successfully performed TMS. One patient had no response to TMS until the maximal machine output was reached. Four patients failed to perform TMS due to lacking cooperation. One patient was contraindicated to TMS. DSI successfully reconstructed the sharp angle fan-shaped PTs within the hemisphere. The accurate fiber distribution with fiber termination and thickness within the lesioned hemisphere was replicated with DSI tractography. No significance was found in patients’ age, sex, seizure frequency, or medication between patients with stable or deteriorated postoperative motor functions. DSI effectively predicted postoperative motor function as stable with damaged PTs, mild deterioration with atrophied PTs, and intact PTs with contralateral innervation confirmed by intracranial stimulation. The area under the curve (AUC) of DSI tractography was 0.84. According to ROC, the cut-off value of PTs asymmetric ratio was 11.5% with 100% sensitivity and 75% specificity. The sensitivity and specificity of TMS were 2/3 and 1/2, respectively.

Conclusions
The anatomic integrity of PTs with DSI tractography could effectively predict postoperative motor function after hemispherectomy. This enables neurosurgeons to inform patients and relatives about postoperative motor functions with direct morphological evidence of PTs to help them with their surgical decisions.
Effect of hepatic fat fraction on major hepatocellular carcinoma features at magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Osman Mohamed Fouad , Mohammed Ahmed Ramadan , Gadalla Amr Abd Elfattah Hassan , Ali Mohammed Mahmoud Abdelhamid , Mahmoud Bahaa Eldin 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most frequent cancer on the world. Fat accumulation within hepatocytes is known as hepatic steatosis. In recent years, research has found that people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease have a higher chance of developing HCC. The LI-RADS® (Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System) was created to facilitate consistent reporting of imaging findings in patients at risk of HCC. The aim of this study was to see how hepatic fat fraction affects the LI-RADS major HCC features on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Results
All HCCs (92/92; 100%) showed arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE); however, a significant association between hepatic steatosis and late APHE was found. Encapsulation was observed in 51 HCC (55.4%); in hepatic steatosis patients 17 HCC (37.8%) displayed enhancing capsule in delayed phase of the study, compared to 34 HCC (72.3%) in non-steatotic patients. The HCC size ranged from 11 to 200 mm (Mean 42.2 ± 51.8 mm) in the hepatic steatosis group; however, in patients with negative hepatic steatosis the size ranged from 13 to 205 (Mean 62.9 ± 54.5 mm).

Conclusions
Hepatic steatosis had a significant association with absent enhancing capsule, late arterial enhancement, as well as a lesion size less than 50 mm. “Fat sparing in solid mass” and "non-enhancing capsule" ancillary features had a significant association with hepatic steatosis, while “mild–moderate T2 hyperintensity” and “fat in mass, more than adjacent liver” ancillary features had a significant association with absent hepatic steatosis.
Shear wave elastography versus strain elastography to identify benign superficial lymph nodes: sonographic assessment with histopathological confirmation
Authors: Kerim Amr A. Abdel , Abd Amr M. El , Naguib Nagy N. , Guimei Maha , Emara Doaa M. 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Differentiation between benign and malignant superficial lymph nodes (LNs) presents clinical dilemma. No specific criteria are established with conventional ultrasound to make a distinction. We aimed to study the added value of shear wave velocity (SWV) measurement with acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) and strain elastography (SE) to identify benign superficial LNs. The study included 115 superficial LNs subjected to conventional ultrasonography, 4-scale strain elastography and shear wave velocity measurement using ARFI. Histopathological analysis was obtained for all examined nodes.

Results
SE correctly diagnosed 89.3% of the reactive and 92.2% of the metastatic LNs and erroneously diagnosed 72.7% of the lymphoma LNs as being benign. Overall sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy were 74.4%, 73%, 85.3%, 57.4% and 73.9%, respectively. The receiver operating curve analysis of SWV measurement using ARFI revealed a cut-off value of ≥ 2.70 m/sec to recognize malignant LNs and to obtain best sensitivity (88.5%) and specificity (89.2%) (Area under the curve: 0.819, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.744 and 0.894). The PPV, NPV and accuracy were 94.5%, 78.6% and 88.7%, respectively. As compared to SE, ARFI boosted the diagnostic accuracy of lymphoma LNs from 27.3 to 68.2% and showed better specificity and NPV to identify benign LN as contrasted to SE.

Conclusions
SE could be adequate to differentiate reactive from metastatic LN but not from Lymphomas. Shear wave elastography is a reasonable imaging modality to identify benign lymph nodes. ARFI at a cut-off value of < 2.7 m/sec was superior to SE and the best B-mode features.
Association between histamine 2 receptor antagonists and sepsis outcomes in ICU patients: a retrospective analysis using the MIMI-IV database
Authors: Firzli Tarek R. , Sathappan Sunil , Antwi-Amoabeng Daniel , Beutler Bryce D. , Ulanja Mark B. , Madhani-Lovely Farah 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Sepsis is marked by elevated histamine, which is a vasodilator that increases vascular permeability. Although human studies are lacking, murine models of sepsis have indicated potential protective effects of histamine 2 receptor antagonist administration (H2RAs).

Objective
To assess any association between H2RA use in sepsis-3 patients admitted to the ICU and mortality, mechanical ventilation, length of stay, and markers of renal, liver, and lung dysfunction.

Design
Retrospective cohort study.

Setting
Intensive care units of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) accessed via the MIMIC-IV database spanning an 11-year period from 2008 to 2019.

Patients (or participants)
A total of 30,591 patients met the inclusion criteria for sepsis-3 on admission (mean age 66.49, standard deviation 15.92).

Main measures
We collected patient age, gender, ethnicity, comorbidities (contained within the Charlson comorbidity index), SOFA score, OASIS score, APS III score, SAPS II score, H2RA use, creatinine, BUN, ALT, AST, and P/F ratios. Primary outcomes were mortality, mechanical ventilation, and ICU length of stay.

Key results
A total of 30,591 patients met inclusion criteria over the 11-year sample period. The 28-day in hospital mortality rate was significantly lower among patients who received an H2RA (12.6% vs 15.1%, p < 0.001) as compared to those who did not receive an H2RA. Patients receiving an H2RA had significantly lower adjusted odds of mortality (0.802, 95% CI 0.741–0.869, p < 0.001), but significantly higher adjusted odds of invasive mechanical ventilation (4.426, 95% CI 4.132–4.741, p < 0.001) and significantly higher ICU LOS (3.2 days vs. 2.4 days, p < 0.001) as compared to the non-H2RA group. H2RA use was also associated with decreased severity of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and lower serum creatinine.

Conclusion
Among patients hospitalized in the ICU for sepsis, the use of an H2RA was associated with significantly lower odds of mortality, decreased severity of ARDS, and a lower incidence of renal insufficiency.
Clinical Administration Characteristics of Subcutaneous and Intravenous Administration of Daratumumab in Patients With Multiple Myeloma at Mayo Clinic Infusion Centers
Authors: Soefje Scott A. , Carpenter Corinne , Carlson Katherine , Awasthi Samir , Lin Thomas S. , Kaila Shuchita , Tarjan Daniel , Kayal Nikhil , Kirkup Christian , Wagner Tyler E. , Gray Kathleen S. , Kumar Shaji 
Published: February 2023

PURPOSE: Median duration of daratumumab (DARA) administration for treatment of multiple myeloma is 3-7 hours for the intravenous formulation (DARA IV) and 3-5 minutes for the subcutaneous formulation (DARA SC). Here, we describe clinical administration characteristics of DARA using a novel method for data extraction from electronic health records. METHODS: Time-based measurements were extracted using a scheduling/pharmacy software program that tracked patient movement through appointments for patients initiating DARA in Mayo Clinic infusion centers from April 5, 2017, to October 14, 2021. Cohorts included patients who received DARA IV or DARA SC, or converted from DARA IV to DARA SC. The DARA SC cohort was further analyzed before (DARA SC initial) and after (DARA SC shortened) a reduction in the postadministration observation time mandated by the treatment plan. Events associated with administration-related reactions (ARRs) were also identified. RESULTS: Median total clinic times were 2.7-3.0 hours shorter for DARA SC versus DARA IV. Median clinic times were highest at dose 1 and decreased with subsequent doses. Median total chair times were 2.7-2.8 hours shorter for DARA SC versus DARA IV. Incidences of ARR-related events with DARA SC were low across doses. CONCLUSION: Reduced clinic times were observed with DARA SC, indicating that use of DARA SC as a treatment option results in time savings that may free clinic resources. Furthermore, novel methods of electronic health record data extraction can provide insights that may help inform clinic resource optimization.
Development and feasibility testing of action observation training videos in acute stroke survivors: Preliminary findings
Authors: Biswas Arunima , Natarajan Manikandan , Subramanian Sandeep K , Solomon John M. 
Published: February 2023

Background: Action observation training (AOT) is used for lower limb (LL) stroke rehabilitation in subacute and chronic stages, but concise information regarding the types of activities to be used and the feasibility of administration in the acute stroke population is unknown. The aim of this study was to develop and validate videos of appropriate activities for LL AOT and test administrative feasibility in acute stroke. Method: A video inventory of LL activities was created after a literature survey and expert scrutiny. Five stroke rehabilitation experts validated the videos per domains of relevance, comprehension, clarity, camera position and brightness. LL AOT was then tested on ten individuals with acute stroke for uncovering barriers for clinical use in a feasibility study. Participants watched the activities and attempted imitation of the same. Determination of administrative feasibility was undertaken via participant interviews. Results: Suitable LL activities for stroke rehabilitation were identified. Content validation of videos led to improvements in selected activities and video quality. Expert scrutiny led to further video processing to include different perspectives of view and speeds of projected movements. Barriers identified included inability to imitate actions shown in videos and increased distractibility for some participants. Conclusion: A video catalogue of LL activities was developed and validated. AOT was deemed safe and feasible for acute stroke rehabilitation and may be used in future research and clinical practice.
Use of ivermectin and factors associated with the prevention and/or treatment of COVID-19: a cross-sectional online survey in the province of Chincha, Peru
Authors: Salvador-Carrillo Jose , Campos-Loza Luz , Guillen-Carbajal David , Osada Jorge , Zevallos Alejandra , Torres-Roman J. Smith 
Published: February 2023

Background: Peru has reported one of the highest mortality rates from COVID-19 worldwide. The Chincha province has been one of the most affected regions in Peru and the leading promoter of the use of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the frequency of use and factors associated with the use of ivermectin for COVID-19 in Chincha. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the second wave of COVID-19 in Peru. For statistical analyses, frequencies and percentages were reported. Prevalence ratios (PR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), and a p-value of 0.05 were used to determine statistical significance. SPSS version 22 (IBM Corp) program was used for the analyses. Results: A total of 432 participants were included in the study. A total of 67.6% (n = 292) of the participants used ivermectin during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of these, 20.20% (n=59) of the people used ivermectin for prophylactic purposes only, while 41.79% (n=122) used it as treatment for COVID-19 only, and 38.01% (n=111) used it for both reasons. The consumption of ivermectin was associated with being 50 years or older (PR:1.27, 95% CI:1.04–1.54), having a technical education level (PR:1.16, 95% CI:1.01–1.34), having had symptoms of COVID-19 with negative/no diagnosis (PR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.07–1.53) or positive diagnosis (PR:1.38, 95% CI:1.18–1.61), or having had contact with infected people (PR:1.45, 95% CI:1.06–1.98). Conclusions: Most people in Chincha used ivermectin during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The main factors associated with the use of ivermectin for the prevention/treatment of COVID-19 were age ≥50 years, having a technical education level, having had symptoms with negative/no diagnosis or positive diagnosis, and contact with people infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Identification of binding sites in nicastrin and binding modes of its inhibitors
Authors: Zinyama Ngceboyakwethu P , Guyo Upenyu , Mugumbate Grace 
Published: February 2023

Background: Nicastrin is a confirmed breast cancer target, but the lack of knowledge about its binding sites and the structural basis of interactions with known small molecules makes the development of small molecules against it challenging. Methods: Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were used in this work to identify binding sites in nicastrin, a gamma-secretase component that has been implicated in breast cancer and a potential drug target in cancer chemotherapy. Results: Docking calculations identified three binding sites, however binding site analysis using druggability assessment identified a region that encompasses the DYIGS motif, the DYIGS site as the most favorable binding site. This site was validated by a 50 ns molecular dynamic simulation with a known inhibitor CID44433923 and free energy of binding was found to be -11.4 kcal/mol and mainly driven by hydrophobic interactions. Per residue decomposition analysis showed that Gln139, Val138 and Arg105 had a relatively high contribution towards the free energy of binding. These results suggest that these residues might be critical in nicastrin inhibition. Binding mode analysis by docking previously reported nicastrin inhibitors identified residues Gln139, Val138 and Asp143 as key in the interactions. Conclusions: This work affords an insight into the binding mechanism of small molecules and might direct drug design efforts towards nicastrin.
High-efficiency mode-locked erbium-doped ZBLAN fiber laser around 2.8  µm by directly depositing Bi2S3 particles onto a cavity mirror
Authors: Ye Shanshan , Chu Yiqi , Huang Song , Luo Qiaoxia , Tang Shihao , Xu Zhiyu , Liu Hao , Li Chuchen , Jiang Chenyun , Wang Xian , Chen Kai , Zhang Wei , Yu Ronghua , Gao Weiqing 
Published: February 2023

Mid-infrared (MIR) pulsed
lasers near a 3 µm
waveband show great potential
for the high absorption of
water molecules and many
important gas molecules. A passively Q-switched mode-locked (QSML) Er3+-doped fluoride fiber laser with a low
laser threshold and high slope efficiency around a 2.8 µm
waveband is reported. The improvement is achieved by depositing
bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) particles onto the cavity mirror
directly as a saturable absorber and using the cleaved end of the
fluoride fiber as output directly. -QSML pulses begin to appear
with the pump power of 280 mW. The repetition rate of the QSML
pulses reaches a maximum of 33.59 kHz with the pump power of
540 mW. When the pump power is further increased, the output of
the fiber laser switches from the QSML to the continuous-wave
mode-locked operation with the repetition rate of 28.64 MHz and
the slope efficiency of 12.2%. The results indicate that Bi2S3 is a promising modulator for the
pulsed lasers near a 3 µm waveband, which paves the way for
further development of various applications in MIR wavebands,
including material processing, MIR frequency combs, and modern
healthcare.
Identifying drugs with the greatest increases and decreases in spending per beneficiary using Medicare Part D: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Hodzic-Santor Benazir , Sacks Chana A. , Van Bakel Tamara , Fralick Michael 
Published: February 2023

Importance
In the US, there are no effective regulations controlling how much the price of a medication can increase. A patchwork of studies examining the reasons for soaring prices has focused on medications that have received considerable media attention, like insulin, epinephrine, and colchicine.

Objective
To identify the 50 medications with the greatest increase in average spending per beneficiary and the 50 medications with the greatest decrease in average spending per beneficiary, and to identify the factors associated with spending increases.

Design, participants
This cross-sectional study used publicly available data from the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program from 2014 to 2020. We included drugs dispensed to > 1000 beneficiaries in each study year and excluded those primarily administered intravenously.

Main measures
Percentage change in average spending per beneficiary from 2014 to 2020 was calculated for each drug. For each drug, we extracted the number of beneficiaries, the number of manufacturers, and the drug-specific total annual spending reported in the Medicare Part D data set. An online database search was conducted to identify the primary clinical indication, the availability of any generic versions, and the date of FDA approval for each drug.

Results
The 50 medications with the greatest increase in spending per beneficiary had a median increase of 362.4% (interquartile range [IQR]: 286.6%-563.0%), with a cumulative spending of almost $5 billion in 2020 alone. Most drugs with the greatest increases in spending per beneficiary had generic versions available (68%) and were approved by the FDA over 10 years ago (66%). Medications with the greatest increase in spending per beneficiary had a median of 1 manufacturer (IQR: 1–2), while medications with the greatest decrease in spending per beneficiary had a median of 9.5 manufacturers (IQR: 5–14).

Conclusions
This study identified rapidly increasing costs of medications under Medicare Part D. Our findings demonstrate that off-patent medications can skyrocket in price, especially when there are few manufacturers of a given medication.
Cardiometabolic risk factors and electrocardiogram results in type 2 diabetes patients with or without non-infected foot ulcers: A comparative study
Authors: Al-Nimer M.S.M. , Ratha R. 
Published: February 2023

BACKGROUND: Numerous investigations have demonstrated that type-2 diabetes (T2D) causes electrocardiographic alterations, whether or not there are microvascular or macrovascular problems.AIM: With respect to glycemic control and the accompanying cardio-metabolic risk factors, the goal of this study was to demonstrate the variations in electrocardiogram records between T2D patients with non-infected diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and those without ulcers.METHODS: This study was performed in the Shar Teaching Hospital in the Sulaimani Governorate-Iraq from July 2018 to June 2019. 167 participants were grouped into Group I (T2D, n=72); Group II (T2D with non-infected diabetic foot ulcers, n=65) and Group III (healthy subjects, n= 30). Blood pressure, electrocardiography, and anthropometric measurements were taken. Fasting serum glucose and lipid profiles were assessed as part of laboratory tests.RESULTS: Group II patients significantly differed from Group I by having lower diastolic blood pressure, a higher pulse pressure index, and a higher fasting serum glucose. The Group I patients had a significantly higher heart rate, a shortening of TQ-interval and widening of QRS dispersion. Group II patients had a significantly shorter TQ-interval compared with the corresponding value of Group I patients (523.6±136.4ms versus 579.2±110.0ms, respectively). These changes in the electrocardiograms are not related to the cardiometabolic risk factors.CONCLUSION: In the non-infected diabetic foot, the TQ-interval, a measure of ventricular repolarization impairment, is much shorter and is linked to a broad pulse pressure. According to this finding, the electrocardiographic abnormalities are a result of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction.